Clinical Epidemiology (Sep 2020)

Real-World Epidemiology of Potassium Derangements Among Chronic Cardiovascular, Metabolic and Renal Conditions: A Population-Based Analysis

  • Jiménez-Marrero S,
  • Cainzos-Achirica M,
  • Monterde D,
  • Garcia-Eroles L,
  • Enjuanes C,
  • Yun S,
  • Garay A,
  • Moliner P,
  • Alcoberro L,
  • Corbella X,
  • Comin-Colet J

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 12
pp. 941 – 952

Abstract

Read online

Santiago Jiménez-Marrero,1,2 Miguel Cainzos-Achirica,1– 4 David Monterde,5 Luis Garcia-Eroles,5 Cristina Enjuanes,1,2 Sergi Yun,1,2,6 Alberto Garay,1,2 Pedro Moliner,1,2 Lidia Alcoberro,1,2 Xavier Corbella,2,6,7 Josep Comin-Colet1,2,8 1Community Heart Failure Program, Department of Cardiology, Bellvitge University Hospital, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; 2Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; 3Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA; 4School of Medicine and Health Sciences, International University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain; 5Healthcare Information and Knowledge Unit, Catalan Health Service, Barcelona, Spain; 6Department of Internal Medicine, Bellvitge University Hospital, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; 7Hestia Chair in Integrated Health and Social Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain; 8Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainCorrespondence: Josep Comin-ColetHospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Department of Cardiology, 19th Floor, Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907 Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, SpainTel +34932607078Email [email protected]: The aims of the present analysis are to estimate the prevalence of five key chronic cardiovascular, metabolic and renal conditions at the population level, the prevalence of renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system inhibitor (RAASI) medication use and the magnitude of potassium (K+) derangements among RAASI users.Methods and Results: We used data from more than 375,000 individuals, 55 years of age or older, included in the population-based healthcare database of the Catalan Institute of Health between 2015 and 2017. The conditions of interest were chronic heart failure (CHF), chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease and hypertension. RAASI medications included angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) and renin inhibitors. Hyperkalemia was defined as K+ levels > 5.0 mEq/L and hypokalemia as K+ < 3.5 mEq/L. The prevalence of chronic cardiovascular, metabolic and renal conditions was high, and particularly that of hypertension (prevalence ranging from 48.2% to 48.9%). The use of at least one RAASI medication was almost ubiquitous in these patients (75.2– 77.3%). Among RAASI users, the frequency of K+ derangements, mainly of hyperkalemia, was very noticeable (12% overall), particularly in patients with CKD or CHF, elderly individuals and users of MRAs. Hypokalemia was less frequent (1%).Conclusion: The high prevalence of K+ derangements, and particularly hyperkalemia, among RAASI users highlights the real-world relevance of K+ derangements, and the importance of close monitoring and management of K+ levels in routine clinical practice. This is likely to benefit a large number of patients, particularly those at higher risk.Keywords: chronic heart failure, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, hyperkalemia, hypertension, potassium

Keywords