Aetiology of hyperkalaemia in hospital inpatients.
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-119018
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Hyperkalaemia is a common metabolic disorder; if left untreated it can lead to life-threatening consequences. We conducted this study to determine the common aetiological factors for hyperkalaemia in hospital inpatients.METHODS:
This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in a referral teaching hospital in south India. One hundred and forty-three patients with hyperkalaemia (> 5 mEq/L) were selected on 20 random week days over a 3-month period. All the patients were clinically and biochemically evaluated for the aetiology of hyperkalaemia.RESULTS:
Hyperkalaemia was twice as common amongst males. Potassium supplementation and drugs were the leading causes for hyperkalaemia, with renal failure being a distant second. Hyperkalaemia developed after admission to hospital in more than 75% of the patients. Severe hyperkalaemia (> 6 mEq/L) was seen in one-third of the patients.CONCLUSION:
Potassium supplementation and other iatrogenic conditions lead to hyperkalaemia in inpatients. Males are at increased risk for hyperkalaemia.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Child
/
Child, Preschool
/
Pilot Projects
/
Cross-Sectional Studies
/
Prospective Studies
/
Adolescent
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Risk factors
Language:
English
Year:
1997
Type:
Article
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