Hyperkalemia in Mexican Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Kidney Week 2020

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) commonly experience hyperkalemia, an electrolyte disorder defined as serum potassium level >5 mEq/L. In patients with CKD, hyperkalemia reduces the ability to excrete potassium, increasing the risk for morbidity and mortality and negatively affecting quality of life.

Researchers in Mexico, led by Mayra Aviles, conducted a cross-sectional retrospective observational study of patients referred to a nephrology consultation in Mexico to examine the prevalence and severity of hyperkalemia in that patient population. Results of the study were reported during a virtual poster session at ASN Kidney Week 2020 in a poster titled Prevalence and Severity of Hyperkalemia in Patients Referred to Nephrology Consultation: Epidemiologic Data from 1106 Mexican Patients at a National Reference Hospital.

Data from adult patients who attended an outpatient nephrology consultation from February 2019 to February 2020 were included, with laboratory reports from the last 15 days prior to the date of the consultation.

Of the 1106 patients included in the analysis, 51% (n=563) were women, mean age was 55.8 years, diabetes and/or hypertension were the primary comorbidities in 47%, and 61% were classified as overweight or obese. Hyperkalemia was identified in 29% of the study population.

Thirteen percent of patients in the study population were receiving renal replacement therapy; of those, 54% had hyperkalemia. Among patients with hyperkalemia, 54% had diabetes, 56% had hypertension, 25% were being treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, 13% took nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on a regular basis, and 48% had proteinuria.

In conclusion, the researchers said, “The presence of hyperkalemia is a risk factor that increases the risk for cardiovascular complications and accelerates the progression to more advanced stages of CKD. It is important to intentionally search for this alteration in all stages of CKD and implement measures that help correct and mitigate its impact on patients with CKD.”

Source: Aviles M, Perez-Navarro LM. Escorza Valdivia S, Benitez Renteria AS, Valdez-Ortiz R. Prevalence and severity of hyperkalemia in patients referred to nephrology consultation: Epidemiologic data from 1106 Mexican patients at a national reference hospital. Abstract of a poster presented at the American Society of Nephrology virtual Kidney Week 2020 (Abstract PO0479), October 22, 2020. Funding for this study was provided by AstraZeneca.