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Serum potassium and risk of cardiovascular disease: the Framingham heart study

Craig R Walsh1, Martin G Larson, Eric P Leip

  • 1Framingham Heart Study, 5 Thurber St, Framingham, MA 01702, USA.

Archives of Internal Medicine
|May 9, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Serum potassium levels were not linked to cardiovascular disease risk in a Framingham Heart Study cohort. This research clarifies the relationship between serum potassium and cardiovascular disease incidence in a healthy population.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Clinical Research
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Conflicting findings exist regarding serum potassium and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in community populations.
  • Previous studies have yielded inconsistent results on the association between serum potassium concentration and CVD risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between serum potassium levels and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
  • To clarify the association between serum potassium concentration and cardiovascular disease risk within the Framingham Heart Study cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 3151 participants from the Framingham Heart Study, free of CVD and not on potassium-affecting medications.
  • Serum potassium levels were measured between 1979-1983, with follow-up for CVD incidence over 16 years.
  • Proportional hazards models were used to assess the association between baseline serum potassium and cardiovascular disease events.

Main Results:

  • Initially, serum potassium showed a marginal association with CVD risk after age adjustment (HR 1.03 per 1 mg/dL increment).
  • However, after adjusting for multiple confounders, serum potassium levels were not significantly associated with cardiovascular disease risk (HR 1.00).
  • No significant association was found between serum potassium levels and CVD-related death in any model.

Conclusions:

  • Serum potassium levels are not associated with the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in a community-based sample.
  • This study suggests that in individuals without pre-existing CVD and not on relevant medications, serum potassium concentration does not predict future cardiovascular events.
Abstract

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