Skip to main content

Table 1 Patient characteristics, risk factors and treatment for hyperkalaemia

From: Hyperkalaemia among hospital admissions: prevalence, risk factors, treatment and impact on length of stay

Patient variables

Total patients

Overall cohort (n)

8775

Age (years), mean (SD)

64.7 (17.2)

Sex (n, %)

 

 Female

3442 (39.2)

 Male

5333 (60.8)

Indigenous status (n, %)

 

 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

1388 (15.8)

 Non-Indigenous

7387 (84.2)

Serum potassium level (mmoL/L), (n, %)

 

 5.1–5.9 (Mild)

6877 (78.4)

 6.0-6.4 (Moderate)

996 (11.4)

 6.5 and above (Severe)

902 (10.3)

eGFR, mean (SD)

63.8 (24.4)

Comorbidities predisposing to hyperkalaemia (n, %)

 

 Diabetes mellitus

2918 (33.3)

 Hypoaldosteronism

1 (0)

 Congestive heart failure

489 (5.6)

 Cirrhosis

167 (1.9)

Medications predisposing to hyperkalaemia (n, %)

 

 beta-blocker

2579 (29.4)

 ACE-i/ARB

3026 (34.5)

 Spironolactone

804 (9.2)

 Trimethoprim

199 (2.3)

 NSAIDS

2844 (3.2)

 Digoxin

428 (4.9)

 Potassium supplements

1525 (7.4)

Treatment for hyperkalaemia (n, %)

 

 IV Calcium gluconate

218 (2.5)

 PO Resonium

1017 (11.6)

 IV Actrapid

460 (5.2)

 IV Novorapid

1227 (14.0)

 Inhaled salbutamol

1474 (16.8)

 IV Sodium bicarbonate

458 (5.2)

 Haemodialysis

101 (1.2)

  1. Legend: This table summarises the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients, including risk factors associated with hyperkalaemia and the corresponding treatments administered. Data include age, gender distribution, comorbidities, medications, and treatments