A multidisciplinary consensus on dehydration: definitions, diagnostic methods and clinical implications

Lacey, Jonathan, Corbett, Jo, Forni, Lui, Hooper, Lee, Hughes, Fintan, Minto, Gary, Moss, Charlotte, Price, Susanna, Whyte, Greg, Woodcock, Tom, Mythen, Michael and Montgomery, Hugh (2019) A multidisciplinary consensus on dehydration: definitions, diagnostic methods and clinical implications. Annals of Medicine, 51 (3-4). pp. 232-251. ISSN 0785-3890

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Abstract

Background: Dehydration appears prevalent, costly and associated with adverse outcomes. We sought to generate consensus on such key issues and elucidate need for further scientific enquiry. Materials and Methods: A modified Delphi process combined expert opinion and evidence appraisal. 12 relevant experts addressed dehydration’s definition, objective markers and impact on physiology and outcome. Results: Fifteen consensus statements and seven research recommendations were generated. Key findings, evidenced in detail, were that there is no universally-accepted definition for dehydration; hydration assessment is complex and requires combining physiological and laboratory variables; ‘dehydration’ and ‘hypovolaemia’ are incorrectly used interchangeably; abnormal hydration status includes relative and/or absolute abnormalities in body water and serum/plasma osmolality (pOsm); raised pOsm usually indicates dehydration; direct measurement of pOsm is the gold standard for determining dehydration; pOsm >300 and ≤280 mOsm/kg classifies a person as hyper or hypo-osmolar; outside extremes, signs of adult dehydration are subtle and unreliable; dehydration is common in hospitals and care homes and associated with poorer outcomes. Discussion: Dehydration poses risk to public health. Dehydration is under-recognised and poorly managed in hospital and community-based care. Further research is required to improve assessment and management of dehydration and the authors have made recommendations to focus academic endeavours.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	dehydration,osmolar concentration,body fluid compartments,consensus,body water,water-electrolyte balance,sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Epidemiology and Public Health Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Services and Primary Care Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Public Health and Health Services Research (former - to 2023) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > UEA Hydrate Group Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Population Health
Related URLs:	https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	29 May 2019 08:30
Last Modified:	17 Jul 2025 11:33
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/71153
DOI:	10.1080/07853890.2019.1628352

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