Affiliations
Renal Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
Given name(s)
Finnian
Family name
Mc Causland
Degrees
MD

Letter to the Editor

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Mon, 01/02/2017 - 19:34
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In response to “Association of serum sodium with morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery”

We thank Drs. Liu and Zhang for their letter and comments. Each diagnostic code in our dataset was individually reviewed by a board‐certified senior orthopedic surgeon (Dr. Wright). We considered procedures as major if they were of long duration, had the potential for significant blood loss, or represented major physiologic stress, including significant fluid balance requirements, in the opinion of our orthopedist coauthor. This set of diagnoses did include femoral neck fractures.

In our original analyses, we included fracture as a covariate in all statistical models and subsequently performed subgroup analyses according to the presence or absence of a diagnosis of fracture. As reported in our article,[1] J‐shaped associations of dysnatremia with greater length of stay were evident in those with and without fractures. In the 30‐day mortality analyses, only mild hyponatremia and hypernatremia remained associated with greater mortality in those with fracture. In those without a diagnosis of fracture, only moderate/severe hyponatremia remained associated with greater 30‐day mortality.

To assess for differences in associations of hyponatremia with outcomes according to age, we dichotomized this variable into those <65 years old versus 65 years old. We then fit model 3 from our original article to determine the adjusted effect estimates for length of stay and 30‐day mortality (Tables 1 and 2, respectively).

While the associations of dysnatremia with 30‐day mortality did not reach statistical significance in the <65 years age group, these results must be interpreted with caution due to the low number of events (35 deaths). We did not perform smaller subgroups analyses according to fracture type due to concerns of multiple comparisons testing, loss of statistical power, and inaccurate interpretation of effect estimates.

Association of Categories of Perioperative Corrected Serum Sodium With Log‐Transformed Length of Stay*
Difference (95% CI) in Length of Stay in Days According to Category of Perioperative SNa
130 mmol/L, n=198 131134 mmol/L, n=1,036) 135143 mmol/L, n=14,563 144 mmol/L, n=409
  • NOTE: Model 3 was adjusted for age, race, sex and clinical center, categories of Charlson Comorbidity Index, diagnosis of fracture, congestive heart failure, diabetes, cancer, and liver disease. Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; SNa, serum sodium.*Corrected for simultaneous measurement of glucose.Exponentiation of the original coefficients was performed to determine the length of stay in days.

Model 3
<65 years old 2.3 (1.63.3), P<0.001 1.4 (1.21.6), P<0.001 Ref 1.5 (1.31.8), P<0.001
65 years old 1.4 (1.11.7), P=0.001 1.4 (1.21.5), P<0.001 Ref 1.3 (1.11.5), P=0.002
Association of Categories of Admission Serum Sodium With Mortality*
Hazard Ratio (95% CI) for 30‐Day Mortality According to Category of Perioperative SNa
130 mmol/L, n=198 131134 mmol/L, n=1,036 135143 mmol/L, n=14,563 144 mmol/L, n=409
  • NOTE: Model 3 was adjusted for age, race, sex and clinical center, categories of Charlson Comorbidity Index, diagnosis of fracture, congestive heart failure, diabetes, cancer, and liver disease. Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; SNa, serum sodium.*Corrected for simultaneous measurement of glucose.

Model 3
<65 years old 1.36 (0.7710.2), P=0.77 2.19 (0.935.19), P=0.07 Ref 4.17 (0.9718.0), P=0.06
65 years old 2.44 (1.274.69), P=0.008 1.64 (1.052.55), P=0.03 Ref 2.98 (1.725.15), P<0.001
References
  1. McCausland FR, Wright J, Waikar SS. Association of serum sodium with morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery. J Hosp Med. 2014;9(5):297302.
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Journal of Hospital Medicine - 9(9)
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We thank Drs. Liu and Zhang for their letter and comments. Each diagnostic code in our dataset was individually reviewed by a board‐certified senior orthopedic surgeon (Dr. Wright). We considered procedures as major if they were of long duration, had the potential for significant blood loss, or represented major physiologic stress, including significant fluid balance requirements, in the opinion of our orthopedist coauthor. This set of diagnoses did include femoral neck fractures.

In our original analyses, we included fracture as a covariate in all statistical models and subsequently performed subgroup analyses according to the presence or absence of a diagnosis of fracture. As reported in our article,[1] J‐shaped associations of dysnatremia with greater length of stay were evident in those with and without fractures. In the 30‐day mortality analyses, only mild hyponatremia and hypernatremia remained associated with greater mortality in those with fracture. In those without a diagnosis of fracture, only moderate/severe hyponatremia remained associated with greater 30‐day mortality.

To assess for differences in associations of hyponatremia with outcomes according to age, we dichotomized this variable into those <65 years old versus 65 years old. We then fit model 3 from our original article to determine the adjusted effect estimates for length of stay and 30‐day mortality (Tables 1 and 2, respectively).

While the associations of dysnatremia with 30‐day mortality did not reach statistical significance in the <65 years age group, these results must be interpreted with caution due to the low number of events (35 deaths). We did not perform smaller subgroups analyses according to fracture type due to concerns of multiple comparisons testing, loss of statistical power, and inaccurate interpretation of effect estimates.

Association of Categories of Perioperative Corrected Serum Sodium With Log‐Transformed Length of Stay*
Difference (95% CI) in Length of Stay in Days According to Category of Perioperative SNa
130 mmol/L, n=198 131134 mmol/L, n=1,036) 135143 mmol/L, n=14,563 144 mmol/L, n=409
  • NOTE: Model 3 was adjusted for age, race, sex and clinical center, categories of Charlson Comorbidity Index, diagnosis of fracture, congestive heart failure, diabetes, cancer, and liver disease. Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; SNa, serum sodium.*Corrected for simultaneous measurement of glucose.Exponentiation of the original coefficients was performed to determine the length of stay in days.

Model 3
<65 years old 2.3 (1.63.3), P<0.001 1.4 (1.21.6), P<0.001 Ref 1.5 (1.31.8), P<0.001
65 years old 1.4 (1.11.7), P=0.001 1.4 (1.21.5), P<0.001 Ref 1.3 (1.11.5), P=0.002
Association of Categories of Admission Serum Sodium With Mortality*
Hazard Ratio (95% CI) for 30‐Day Mortality According to Category of Perioperative SNa
130 mmol/L, n=198 131134 mmol/L, n=1,036 135143 mmol/L, n=14,563 144 mmol/L, n=409
  • NOTE: Model 3 was adjusted for age, race, sex and clinical center, categories of Charlson Comorbidity Index, diagnosis of fracture, congestive heart failure, diabetes, cancer, and liver disease. Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; SNa, serum sodium.*Corrected for simultaneous measurement of glucose.

Model 3
<65 years old 1.36 (0.7710.2), P=0.77 2.19 (0.935.19), P=0.07 Ref 4.17 (0.9718.0), P=0.06
65 years old 2.44 (1.274.69), P=0.008 1.64 (1.052.55), P=0.03 Ref 2.98 (1.725.15), P<0.001

We thank Drs. Liu and Zhang for their letter and comments. Each diagnostic code in our dataset was individually reviewed by a board‐certified senior orthopedic surgeon (Dr. Wright). We considered procedures as major if they were of long duration, had the potential for significant blood loss, or represented major physiologic stress, including significant fluid balance requirements, in the opinion of our orthopedist coauthor. This set of diagnoses did include femoral neck fractures.

In our original analyses, we included fracture as a covariate in all statistical models and subsequently performed subgroup analyses according to the presence or absence of a diagnosis of fracture. As reported in our article,[1] J‐shaped associations of dysnatremia with greater length of stay were evident in those with and without fractures. In the 30‐day mortality analyses, only mild hyponatremia and hypernatremia remained associated with greater mortality in those with fracture. In those without a diagnosis of fracture, only moderate/severe hyponatremia remained associated with greater 30‐day mortality.

To assess for differences in associations of hyponatremia with outcomes according to age, we dichotomized this variable into those <65 years old versus 65 years old. We then fit model 3 from our original article to determine the adjusted effect estimates for length of stay and 30‐day mortality (Tables 1 and 2, respectively).

While the associations of dysnatremia with 30‐day mortality did not reach statistical significance in the <65 years age group, these results must be interpreted with caution due to the low number of events (35 deaths). We did not perform smaller subgroups analyses according to fracture type due to concerns of multiple comparisons testing, loss of statistical power, and inaccurate interpretation of effect estimates.

Association of Categories of Perioperative Corrected Serum Sodium With Log‐Transformed Length of Stay*
Difference (95% CI) in Length of Stay in Days According to Category of Perioperative SNa
130 mmol/L, n=198 131134 mmol/L, n=1,036) 135143 mmol/L, n=14,563 144 mmol/L, n=409
  • NOTE: Model 3 was adjusted for age, race, sex and clinical center, categories of Charlson Comorbidity Index, diagnosis of fracture, congestive heart failure, diabetes, cancer, and liver disease. Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; SNa, serum sodium.*Corrected for simultaneous measurement of glucose.Exponentiation of the original coefficients was performed to determine the length of stay in days.

Model 3
<65 years old 2.3 (1.63.3), P<0.001 1.4 (1.21.6), P<0.001 Ref 1.5 (1.31.8), P<0.001
65 years old 1.4 (1.11.7), P=0.001 1.4 (1.21.5), P<0.001 Ref 1.3 (1.11.5), P=0.002
Association of Categories of Admission Serum Sodium With Mortality*
Hazard Ratio (95% CI) for 30‐Day Mortality According to Category of Perioperative SNa
130 mmol/L, n=198 131134 mmol/L, n=1,036 135143 mmol/L, n=14,563 144 mmol/L, n=409
  • NOTE: Model 3 was adjusted for age, race, sex and clinical center, categories of Charlson Comorbidity Index, diagnosis of fracture, congestive heart failure, diabetes, cancer, and liver disease. Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; SNa, serum sodium.*Corrected for simultaneous measurement of glucose.

Model 3
<65 years old 1.36 (0.7710.2), P=0.77 2.19 (0.935.19), P=0.07 Ref 4.17 (0.9718.0), P=0.06
65 years old 2.44 (1.274.69), P=0.008 1.64 (1.052.55), P=0.03 Ref 2.98 (1.725.15), P<0.001
References
  1. McCausland FR, Wright J, Waikar SS. Association of serum sodium with morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery. J Hosp Med. 2014;9(5):297302.
References
  1. McCausland FR, Wright J, Waikar SS. Association of serum sodium with morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery. J Hosp Med. 2014;9(5):297302.
Issue
Journal of Hospital Medicine - 9(9)
Issue
Journal of Hospital Medicine - 9(9)
Page Number
613-613
Page Number
613-613
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In response to “Association of serum sodium with morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery”
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In response to “Association of serum sodium with morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery”
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