The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hyperkalemia in the Outpatient Setting

Background. Hyperkalemia is a life-threatening condition in outpatient and emergency departments. Hyperkalemia is associated with more events of major adverse cardiovascular diseases, hospitalization, and death. The aim of this study is to study and assess the prevalence and risk factors for develop...

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Main Authors: Chadapa Sevamontree, Supreeya Jintajirapan, Pran Phakdeekitcharoen, Bunyong Phakdeekitcharoen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-01-01
Series:International Journal of Nephrology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/5694131
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author Chadapa Sevamontree
Supreeya Jintajirapan
Pran Phakdeekitcharoen
Bunyong Phakdeekitcharoen
author_facet Chadapa Sevamontree
Supreeya Jintajirapan
Pran Phakdeekitcharoen
Bunyong Phakdeekitcharoen
author_sort Chadapa Sevamontree
collection DOAJ
description Background. Hyperkalemia is a life-threatening condition in outpatient and emergency departments. Hyperkalemia is associated with more events of major adverse cardiovascular diseases, hospitalization, and death. The aim of this study is to study and assess the prevalence and risk factors for developing hyperkalemia within the Thai population. Method. A cross-sectional observational study of 3,299 unique adult patients (≥18 years) in one calendar year (2021) with at least 1 valid serum potassium (SK) test was conducted in the outpatient department of medicine. Hyperkalemia was determined as SK ≥5.8 mmol/L without hemolysis or technical error. Clinical data and laboratory tests were collected for analysis of risk factors. Result. 2,971 patients (131 hyperkalemia and 2,840 control) were eligible. The annual prevalence of hyperkalemia was 4.41%. The mean ages of patients were 66.5 years in the hyperkalemia group and 55.9 years in the control group. Increasing age had a positive association (r = 0.220, p<0.001) to risk of hyperkalemia, whereas the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) had an inverse association with SK level (r = −0.398, p<0.001). The risk factors for hyperkalemia were patients with age ≥65 years (odds ratio, 2.106; 95% CI, 1.399, 3.171; p<0.001), presence of diabetes mellitus (DM, odds ratio, 1.541; 95% CI, 1.030, 2.306; p=0.036), chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage ≥3 (odds ratio, 14.885; 95% CI, 8.112, 27.313; p<0.001), hemodialysis treatment (odds ratio, 10.170; 95% CI, 5.858, 17.657; p<0.001), and usage of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi, odds ratio, 2.256; 95% CI, 1.440, 3.536; p<0.001). Conclusion. The risk factors contributing to hyperkalemia were patients with older age, DM, CKD, hemodialysis treatment, and usage of RAASi. Although the usage of RAASi is proven to be a cardiovascular advantage in the elderly, DM, and CKD patients, careful monitoring of SK is strongly advised to optimize patient care.
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spelling doaj-art-28ae47f74d5547c7930f9da7d3c4eb5f2025-08-20T03:54:47ZengWileyInternational Journal of Nephrology2090-21582024-01-01202410.1155/2024/5694131The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hyperkalemia in the Outpatient SettingChadapa Sevamontree0Supreeya Jintajirapan1Pran Phakdeekitcharoen2Bunyong Phakdeekitcharoen3Division of NephrologyOutpatient Intervention and Urgency CareRenal DepartmentDivision of NephrologyBackground. Hyperkalemia is a life-threatening condition in outpatient and emergency departments. Hyperkalemia is associated with more events of major adverse cardiovascular diseases, hospitalization, and death. The aim of this study is to study and assess the prevalence and risk factors for developing hyperkalemia within the Thai population. Method. A cross-sectional observational study of 3,299 unique adult patients (≥18 years) in one calendar year (2021) with at least 1 valid serum potassium (SK) test was conducted in the outpatient department of medicine. Hyperkalemia was determined as SK ≥5.8 mmol/L without hemolysis or technical error. Clinical data and laboratory tests were collected for analysis of risk factors. Result. 2,971 patients (131 hyperkalemia and 2,840 control) were eligible. The annual prevalence of hyperkalemia was 4.41%. The mean ages of patients were 66.5 years in the hyperkalemia group and 55.9 years in the control group. Increasing age had a positive association (r = 0.220, p<0.001) to risk of hyperkalemia, whereas the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) had an inverse association with SK level (r = −0.398, p<0.001). The risk factors for hyperkalemia were patients with age ≥65 years (odds ratio, 2.106; 95% CI, 1.399, 3.171; p<0.001), presence of diabetes mellitus (DM, odds ratio, 1.541; 95% CI, 1.030, 2.306; p=0.036), chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage ≥3 (odds ratio, 14.885; 95% CI, 8.112, 27.313; p<0.001), hemodialysis treatment (odds ratio, 10.170; 95% CI, 5.858, 17.657; p<0.001), and usage of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi, odds ratio, 2.256; 95% CI, 1.440, 3.536; p<0.001). Conclusion. The risk factors contributing to hyperkalemia were patients with older age, DM, CKD, hemodialysis treatment, and usage of RAASi. Although the usage of RAASi is proven to be a cardiovascular advantage in the elderly, DM, and CKD patients, careful monitoring of SK is strongly advised to optimize patient care.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/5694131
spellingShingle Chadapa Sevamontree
Supreeya Jintajirapan
Pran Phakdeekitcharoen
Bunyong Phakdeekitcharoen
The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hyperkalemia in the Outpatient Setting
International Journal of Nephrology
title The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hyperkalemia in the Outpatient Setting
title_full The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hyperkalemia in the Outpatient Setting
title_fullStr The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hyperkalemia in the Outpatient Setting
title_full_unstemmed The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hyperkalemia in the Outpatient Setting
title_short The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hyperkalemia in the Outpatient Setting
title_sort prevalence and risk factors of hyperkalemia in the outpatient setting
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/5694131
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