Hyperkalemia Rates Lower in Patients with Sjogren’s Syndrome with AKI

Kidney Week 2020

In patients with autoimmune diseases, acute kidney injury (AKI) is recognized as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. According to Mohamedanwar M. Ghandour, MD, and Yahya M. Osman Malik, MD, both of Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, there are few data available on this association in patients with Sjogren’s syndrome (SJS).

The researchers conducted an analysis to examine the prevalence, mortality, outcomes, length of stay, and hospital charges among patients with AKI with SJS compared with patients without SJS. Results of the analysis were reported during a virtual poster session at ASK Kidney Week 2020 in a poster titled Prevalence, Length of Stay, and Hospitalization of AKI in Patients with and without Sjogren Syndrome.

The data were retrieved from the National Inpatient Sample for adult patients admitted between 2010 and 2013 with a principle diagnosis of AKI, using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes. The study cohort was divided into two groups: one group with SJS and one group without SJS. The researchers conducted multivariate and linear regression analysis to adjust for covariates.

The study population represented 97,055 weighted patient discharges with AKI. Nearly three-quarters of the cohort had Medicare, followed by private insurance, and Medicaid. More than half of the population received care in a tertiary center hospital, and more than two-thirds of the patients had two or more comorbidities.

Patients with AKI with Sjogren’s disease had statistically significant lower rates of hyperkalemia compared with patients without Sjogren’s disease (adjusted odds ratio, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.46-0.92; P=.017). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in mortality, length of stay, hospital charges, and other outcomes.

In summary, the researchers said, “At present, our study is unique as it has examined the prevalence, mortality, and outcomes of Sjogren’s in patients with acute kidney injury. Patients with Sjogren’s had significantly lower hyperkalemia during the hospitalization. Further research is needed to identify the underlying protective mechanisms associated with Sjogren’s that resulted in lower hyperkalemia.”

Source: Ghandour MM, Osman Malik, YM. Prevalence, length of stay, and hospitalization of AKI in patients with and without Sjogren Syndrome. Abstract of a poster presented at the American Society of Nephrology virtual Kidney Week 2020 (Abstract PO0084), October 22, 2020.