Factors Affecting Hydration Status among Critically Ill Patients

Abstract

Maintenance of fluid balance is considered critical to sustaining many bodily functions, including metabolic and biochemical reactions, transport of nutrients and thermo-regulation. The average adult has roughly 65% fluid mass, with this value being slightly lower in females than males. Body fluids may classify into intracellular fluid compartment and extracellular fluid compartments (Chen, et al., 2020). Hydration is important for proper physiological function in humans. Alterations in hydration level can cause physical and cognitive impairments in healthy adults. Illness affects hydration status in many ways. The patient may be unable to ingest food or liquids, there may be a problem with absorption from the intestinal tract, or there may be kidney impairment that affect excretion or reabsorption of water and electrolytes (Besler, et al., 2020). Any disease that affects circulation such as “heart failure” will affect distribution and composition of body fluids. Extra fluid is lost when metabolic rate is accelerated, such as occurs in fever, burn, trauma, sepsis, thyroid crisis, hot environment, and states of extreme stress. Patients on mechanical ventilator, those with rapid respirations, and those with severe diarrhea, vomiting or excessive amount of fistula drainage also lose greater amount of fluids. Any critically ill patient is at risk for fluid and electrolyte imbalance (Stromberg, 2020).