Which assessment finding is associated with dehydration?

Increased urine specific gravity is an important indicator of dehydration. When the body is dehydrated, it conserves water, leading to more concentrated urine. This concentration is reflected in higher specific gravity levels, which measures the kidney's ability to concentrate urine. When fluid levels in the body are low, the kidneys reabsorb more water, resulting in urine that has a higher solute concentration.

This correlation is particularly significant in clinical assessments of hydration status. While decreased heart rate and increased blood pressure may indicate other physiological states, in dehydration, heart rate may often increase due to compensatory mechanisms, and blood pressure might actually drop. Normal body temperature does not provide information about hydration and can remain unaffected in cases of dehydration. Therefore, increased urine specific gravity serves as a clear and direct measure associated solely with dehydration.