Informatics in Medicine Unlocked 21 (2020) 100437 Available online 29 September 2020 2352-9148/© 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Evaluation of the association between malaria infection and electrolyte variation in patients: Use of Pearson correlation analytical technique James A. Ndako a, * , Joseph A. Olisa c , Ogechukwu Y. Ozoadibe d , Victor T. Dojumo b , Victor O. Fajobi b , Jeremiah A. Akinwumi b a Department of Microbiology, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria b Department of Medical Laboratory Services, Landmark University Medical Center, Omu-Aran, Nigeria c Department of Medical Services, Landmark University Medical Center, Omu-Aran, Nigeria d Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria A R T I C L E INFO Keywords: Malaria Electrolytes Plasmodium falciparum Plasmodium vivax Pearson’s correlation coeffcient ABSTRACT Background: Malaria is a mosquito borne serious infectious disease caused by the protozoan parasites of the plasmodium species. Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum are the common causes of malaria infection. Elec- trolytes play an important role in the normal functioning of human body. Malaria infection has been shown to be associated with abnormalities in fuids, electrolytes and acid base balance which are capable of enhancing disease severity. This study evaluates the relationship between malaria infections and electrolytes among ma- laria infected patients. Methods: Finger prick blood samples were collected from Two-Hundred (200) malaria-suspected patients. The Giemsa-stained blood smears were carefully examined according to standard procedure. Relevant information from each subject was obtained using well-structured questionnaires. Results: Pearson’s Correlation Coeffcient technique was used to investigate the relationship, and the strength of association between the variables. The mean bound of patients’ sodium level was observed to fall within the specifed normal limits of 125 mmol/L – 145 mmol/L; except for positive malaria patients belonging to the MP- (++) which will fall below the 125 mmol/L (i.e. 126.25 mmol/L – 1.77 mmol/L = 124.48 mmol/L). Conclusion: This study discovered a signifcant linear relationship based on the Pearson product-moment cor- relation between creatinine and urea, potassium and chloride, potassium and creatinine, potassium and urea. The mean sodium and chloride level of positive malaria [MP-(++)] patients were observed to fall outside the normal limit. It was also found that Plasmodium falciparum showed more alteration in electrolytes parameters than Plasmodium vivax. 1. Introduction Malaria is one of the most widespread infectious diseases among humans and endemic in tropical and subtropical regions with highest prevalence in Africa and Southeast Asia, It is also one of the major public health problems in Nigeria, contributing a quarter of the malaria burden in Africa [1].. Humans are infected by fve Plasmodium species which are P. falciparum, P. malariae, P. ovale, P. vivax and P. knowlesi. although malaria infection is mainly caused by P. vivax and P. falcipa- rum [2]. Electrolytes are minerals present in blood and other body fuids for proper physiological processes, there optimum range is very essential for proper physiological activities [3]. Electrolyte imbalances and mineral disturbances are known to be common clinical manifestations in several infectious diseases including Malaria. Hyponatraemia, hyper- kalaemia, hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia usually develops as a result of infection with Plasmodium [4]. The major cationic extracel- lular fuid, Sodium (Na) aids the regulation of normal water distribution and osmotic pressure in several body fuids. Na + ion disturbance is a cause of major health problems [5]. While, Hyponatraemia is a decline in the amount of Na + concentration and considered as an important clinical manifestation of malaria. Coincidentally, decreased levels of Na exaggerates the disease symptoms and results in severe malaria condition in most patients [6]. For all body cells, tissues and organs to accurately function, Potassium * Corresponding author. E-mail address: ndako.james@lmu.edu.ng (J.A. Ndako). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Informatics in Medicine Unlocked journal homepage: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/imu https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imu.2020.100437 Received 6 July 2020; Received in revised form 22 September 2020; Accepted 25 September 2020