1 Respiratory Medicine Resident, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai. (First Author)
2* Associate Professor, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai. (Second Author & Corresponding Author)
3 HOD of Respiratory Medicine Department, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai.
Received: 20th Feb, 2026 | Revised: 4th Mar, 2026 | Accepted: 25th Mar, 2026 | Available Online: 10th Apr, 2026
Background: Tuberculosis is a systemic infectious disease associated with significant metabolic and electrolyte disturbances. Sodium and calcium abnormalities, particularly hyponatraemia and hypocalcaemia, are increasingly recognized but remain under-characterized in relation to disease severity and clinical forms.
Methods: A hospital-based observational analytical study was conducted over six months (August 2025 to January 2026) at a tertiary care center, including 60 patients with confirmed tuberculosis. Clinical, demographic, and laboratory data were collected. Serum sodium and calcium levels were measured at baseline. Associations between electrolyte abnormalities and disease characteristics were analyzed using Chi-square test and logistic regression.
Results: Hyponatraemia was observed in 43.3% (n=26) and hypocalcaemia in 30.0% (n=18) of patients. Hyponatraemia was significantly associated with type of tuberculosis (p=0.021), with highest prevalence in CNS TB (80.0%) and disseminated TB (66.7%). Hypocalcaemia was also significantly associated with disease type (p=0.048), being most frequent in CNS TB (60.0%). On multivariate analysis, age >50 years (AOR=3.2; p=0.018), CNS TB (AOR=5.8; p=0.002), and diabetes mellitus (AOR=3.1; p=0.031) were independent predictors of hyponatraemia.
Conclusion: Electrolyte abnormalities are common in tuberculosis, with hyponatraemia strongly associated with severe disease forms. The predominance of hypocalcaemia suggests variation in metabolic response. Routine electrolyte monitoring is essential for early identification and improved clinical management.
Keywords: Tuberculosis; Hyponatremia; Hypocalcemia; Electrolyte Imbalance; Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion; Central Nervous System Infections; Comorbidity; Disease Severity; Metabolic Disorders.
How to cite this article: Thirumagal R, Elen Ann Abraham, Ghanshyam Verma. Clinical Profile and Aetiopathogenesis of Patients with Sodium and Calcium Abnormalities in Tuberculosis. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(4):481-489. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.4.48
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.