Serum potassium dynamics during acute heart failure hospitalization

• DOI: 10.1007/s00392-020-01753-3
• Publication Date: 2020-10-17T16:02:50Z
• Authors: Pedro Caravaca Perez; José R. González-...; Jorge Nuche; Laura Morán Ferná...; David Lora Pablos; Jesús Alvarez-García; Ramón Bascompte C...; Manuel Martínez S...; Rafael Vázquez Ga...; Luis Martínez Dolz; Marta Cobo-Marcos; Domingo Pascual F...; Maria G. Crespo-L...; Julio Nuñez Villota; Juan Cinca Cuscul...; Juan F. Delgado
• Keywords: Heart Failure; Medicamento; Terapéutica; Enfermedad cardiovascular; 610; Heart failure; Hypokalemia; Dyskalemia, Heart failure, Hyperkalemia, Hypokalemia, Potassium; 3. Good health; Hospitalization; Tratamiento médico; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 616; Potassium; Humans; Hyperkalemia; Enfermedades cardiovasculares; Dyskalemia; Medicamentos de referencia

Available information about prognostic implications of potassium levels alteration in the setting of acute heart failure (AHF) is scarce.We aim to describe the prevalence of dyskalemia (hypo or hyperkalemia), its dynamic changes during AHF-hospitalization, and its long-term clinical impact after hospitalization.We analyzed 1779 patients hospitalized with AHF who were included in the REDINSCOR II registry. Patients were classified in three groups, according to potassium levels both on admission and discharge: hypokalemia (potassium < 3.5 mEq/L), normokalemia (potassium = 3.5-5.0 mEq/L and, hyperkalemia (potassium > 5 mEq/L).The prevalence of hypokalemia and hyperkalemia on admission was 8.2 and 4.6%, respectively, and 6.4 and 2.7% at discharge. Hyperkalemia on admission was associated with higher in-hospital mortality (OR = 2.32 [95% CI: 1.04-5.21] p = 0.045). Among patients with hypokalemia on admission, 79% had normalized potassium levels at discharge. In the case of patients with hyperkalemia on admission, 89% normalized kalemia before discharge. In multivariate Cox regression, dyskalemia was associated with higher 12-month mortality, (HR = 1.48 [95% CI, 1.12-1.96], p = 0.005). Among all patterns of dyskalemia persistent hypokalemia (HR = 3.17 [95% CI: 1.71-5.88]; p < 0.001), and transient hyperkalemia (HR = 1.75 [95% CI: 1.07-2.86]; p = 0.023) were related to reduced 12-month survival.Potassium levels alterations are frequent and show a dynamic behavior during AHF admission. Hyperkalemia on admission is an independent predictor of higher in-hospital mortality. Furthermore, persistent hypokalemia and transient hyperkalemia on admission are independent predictors of 12-month mortality.