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Published on: November 11, 2022
Potassium level changes--arrhythmia contributing factor in chronic kidney disease patients
I A Checheriţă1, Cristiana David, V Diaconu
1Department of Nephrology, Urology and Transplant Immunology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania. fizij@yahoo.com
Summary
Serum potassium levels significantly impact heart rhythm in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Both high (hyperkalemia) and low (hypokalemia) potassium levels increase arrhythmia risk, with hypokalemia being a stronger factor.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Cardiology
- Clinical Pathophysiology
Background:
- Progressive decline in renal function often impairs diuresis.
- Potassium level imbalance is a major pathophysiological factor in chronic kidney disease (CKD) monitoring.
- Potassium imbalances can lead to life-threatening arrhythmias.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the extent to which serum potassium changes are implicated in arrhythmia development in CKD patients.
Main Methods:
- Included 678 CKD patients (predialysis and dialysed).
- Recorded biohumoral and clinical features.
- Correlated these features with the potential for arrhythmia genesis.
Main Results:
- An important correlation between hyperkalemia/hypokalemia and arrhythmias was observed in the predialysis group.
- Arrhythmias were more frequent during hypokalemia episodes (OR=4.04 for hyperkalemia, OR=7.5 for hypokalemia).
- Similar correlations were observed in the chronic dialysis group.
Conclusions:
- Hypokalemia is a stronger risk factor for arrhythmias than hyperkalemia in CKD patients.
- Any minimal changes in serum potassium levels can precipitate arrhythmias in CKD patients.
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