Abstract
Objective: Evaluate the prevalence of hyperkalemia (potassium > 5.5 mmol/l) in hospitalized patients not on dialysis, as well as the association of medications, impaired renal function and comorbid conditions with hyperkalemia. Design: A retrospective case-control method. Setting: A tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients: Hyperkalemic adults not on dialysis with age and sex matched controls. Interventions: None. Main outcome measures: The use of medications associated with hyperkalemia and renal function using a calculated creatinine clearance were compared in the hyperkalemic and control groups. Results: 35 adult patients with hyperkalemia who were not receiving dialysis were identified, with a prevalence in the hospitalized population of 3.3%. The hyperkalemic patients were older than the general hospital population (p <0.05). Compared with controls, hyperkalemic patients: had a lower creatinine clearance (p <0.05), were more likely to be taking angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (p <0.05), and had an increased frequency of diabetes mellitus (p <0.001). All of the control patients survived their hospitalization, but the mortality rate in the hyperkalemic group was 17% (p <0.0001). None of the deaths were directly attributable to hyperkalemia. Conclusions: Hyperkalemia is more frequent in older patients and is usually mild. Hyperkalemia is associated with diabetes mellitus, diminished renal function and the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. An elevated serum potassium level in a hospitalized patient may be a marker for a significantly increased risk of death, which is due to underlying medical problems and is not a consequence of the hyperkalemia.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 177-180 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | International Urology and Nephrology |
| Volume | 32 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2000 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Nephrology
- Urology
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
Cite this
Hyperkalemia in hospitalized patients. / Stevens, M. S.; Dunlay, Robert W.
In: International Urology and Nephrology, Vol. 32, No. 2, 2000, p. 177-180.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Hyperkalemia in hospitalized patients
AU - Stevens, M. S.
AU - Dunlay, Robert W.
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - Objective: Evaluate the prevalence of hyperkalemia (potassium > 5.5 mmol/l) in hospitalized patients not on dialysis, as well as the association of medications, impaired renal function and comorbid conditions with hyperkalemia. Design: A retrospective case-control method. Setting: A tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients: Hyperkalemic adults not on dialysis with age and sex matched controls. Interventions: None. Main outcome measures: The use of medications associated with hyperkalemia and renal function using a calculated creatinine clearance were compared in the hyperkalemic and control groups. Results: 35 adult patients with hyperkalemia who were not receiving dialysis were identified, with a prevalence in the hospitalized population of 3.3%. The hyperkalemic patients were older than the general hospital population (p <0.05). Compared with controls, hyperkalemic patients: had a lower creatinine clearance (p <0.05), were more likely to be taking angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (p <0.05), and had an increased frequency of diabetes mellitus (p <0.001). All of the control patients survived their hospitalization, but the mortality rate in the hyperkalemic group was 17% (p <0.0001). None of the deaths were directly attributable to hyperkalemia. Conclusions: Hyperkalemia is more frequent in older patients and is usually mild. Hyperkalemia is associated with diabetes mellitus, diminished renal function and the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. An elevated serum potassium level in a hospitalized patient may be a marker for a significantly increased risk of death, which is due to underlying medical problems and is not a consequence of the hyperkalemia.
AB - Objective: Evaluate the prevalence of hyperkalemia (potassium > 5.5 mmol/l) in hospitalized patients not on dialysis, as well as the association of medications, impaired renal function and comorbid conditions with hyperkalemia. Design: A retrospective case-control method. Setting: A tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients: Hyperkalemic adults not on dialysis with age and sex matched controls. Interventions: None. Main outcome measures: The use of medications associated with hyperkalemia and renal function using a calculated creatinine clearance were compared in the hyperkalemic and control groups. Results: 35 adult patients with hyperkalemia who were not receiving dialysis were identified, with a prevalence in the hospitalized population of 3.3%. The hyperkalemic patients were older than the general hospital population (p <0.05). Compared with controls, hyperkalemic patients: had a lower creatinine clearance (p <0.05), were more likely to be taking angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (p <0.05), and had an increased frequency of diabetes mellitus (p <0.001). All of the control patients survived their hospitalization, but the mortality rate in the hyperkalemic group was 17% (p <0.0001). None of the deaths were directly attributable to hyperkalemia. Conclusions: Hyperkalemia is more frequent in older patients and is usually mild. Hyperkalemia is associated with diabetes mellitus, diminished renal function and the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. An elevated serum potassium level in a hospitalized patient may be a marker for a significantly increased risk of death, which is due to underlying medical problems and is not a consequence of the hyperkalemia.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034480590&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0034480590&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1023/A:1007135517950
DO - 10.1023/A:1007135517950
M3 - Article
C2 - 11229629
AN - SCOPUS:0034480590
VL - 32
SP - 177
EP - 180
JO - International Urology and Nephrology
JF - International Urology and Nephrology
SN - 0301-1623
IS - 2
ER -