Update: Exertional hyponatremia, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2005-2020

Abstract

From 2005 through 2020, there were 1,643 incident diagnoses of exertional hyponatremia among active component service members, for a crude overall incidence rate of 7.6 cases per 100,000 person-years (p-yrs). Compared to their respective counterparts, females, those less than 20 years old, and recruit trainees had higher overall incidence rates of exertional hyponatremia diagnoses. The overall incidence rate during the 16-year period was highest in the Marine Corps, intermediate in the Army and Air Force, and lowest in the Navy. Overall rates during the surveillance period were highest among Asian/Pacific Islander and non-Hispanic White service members and lowest among non-Hispanic Black service members. Between 2005 and 2020, crude annual incidence rates of exertional hyponatremia peaked in 2010 (12.7 per 100,000 p-yrs) and then decreased to a low of 5.3 cases per 100,000 p-yrs in 2013. The crude annual rates fluctuated between 2014 and 2020, reaching the 2 highest rates in 2015 (8.6 per 100,000 p-yrs) and in 2020 (8.0 per 100,000 p-yrs). Service members and their supervisors must be knowledgeable of the dangers of excessive water consumption and the prescribed limits for water intake during prolonged physical activity (e.g., field training exercises, personal fitness training, and recreational activities) in hot, humid weather.