Assessment of Serum Sodium and Potassium Levels and Their Relationship with Electrolyte Imbalance in Lung Cancer Patients

Abstract

Lung cancer remains among the most prevalent malignancies and is often accompanied by metabolic derangements, notably electrolyte imbalances, which can compromise patients’ overall clinical status and potentially influence disease trajectory. This study sought to (i) quantify serum sodium and potassium concentrations in individuals with lung cancer, (ii) examine their associations with age, and (iii) compare these measures with those observed in an apparently healthy control cohort. The investigation included 43 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of lung cancer (age range: 33–90 years) receiving care at the National Cancer Treatment Center in Misurata, and 24 age-comparable healthy participants. Venous blood specimens were obtained, and serum was isolated in accordance with standard laboratory protocols. Serum sodium and potassium were determined using the ion-selective electrode (ISE) technique. Statistical analyses were performed in SPSS; results were summarized as mean ± standard deviation, between-group comparisons were conducted using the independent-samples t-test, and age-related associations were assessed via Pearson’s correlation coefficient, with significance defined as P < 0.05. The analyses demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in serum sodium among lung cancer patients relative to controls, whereas serum potassium concentrations did not differ significantly between groups. Moreover, patient age exhibited a significant inverse correlation with serum sodium, while no significant association was identified between age and serum potassium. Collectively, these findings suggest that hyponatremia constitutes a frequent electrolyte disturbance in lung cancer, particularly in older patients, and may serve as a clinically relevant marker for patient assessment, whereas potassium homeostasis appears comparatively preserved in the absence of concomitant conditions.