Table 3. Actions taken after experiencing hypo- or hyperkalemia over one year after incident heart failure.
| Hypokalemia (<3.5 mmol/L) | Hyperkalemia (≥5.5 mmol/L) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Action taken | Case | Control | Case | Control |
| Emergency room visit within 7 days | 14.2% (792/5585) ‡ | 4.9% (2937/60378) | 13.9% (592/4247) ‡ | 6.1% (5864/95612) |
| Repeated potassium measurement within 14 days | 29.4% (1641/5585) ‡ | 7.3% (4403/60378) | 43.4% (1844/4247) ‡ | 8.8% (8377/95612) |
| Discontinuation of ACEI/ARB within 60 days | 14.1% (399/2822) ‡ | 8.2% (2829/34359) | 14.2% (395/2791) ‡ | 8.2% (4299/52415) |
| Initiation of ACEI/ARB within 60 days | 10.7% (297/2763) | 10.2% (2662/26019) | 10.3% (150/1456) | 10.1% (4378/43197) |
| Discontinuation of diuretics within 60 days | 15.8% (570/3601) ‡ | 12.0% (3296/27565) | 16.5% (404/2448) ‡ | 12.2% (5915/48324) |
| Initiation of diuretics within 60 days | 16.2% (321/1984) ‡ | 10.1% (3327/32813) | 14.8% (267/1799) ‡ | 10.8% (5097/47288) |
| Discontinuation of K-sparing diuretics within 60 days | 21.7% (117/540) ‡ | 12.6% (694/5527) | 26.7% (219/820) ‡ | 12.9% (1113/8611) |
| Initiation of K-sparing diuretics within 60 days | 5.2% (261/5045) ‡ | 1.8% (980/54851) | 2.6% (90/3427) | 2.2% (1950/87001) |
| Discontinuation of beta-blockers within 60 days | 9.3% (310/3337) ‡ | 6.7% (2303/34509) | 7.4% (206/2783) | 7.0% (3781/53670) |
| Initiation of beta-blockers within 60 days | 10.9% (246/2248) | 10.0% (2589/25869) | 12.2% (178/1464) † | 10.0% (4185/41942) |
| Initiation of kayexalate within 60 days | 0.7% (5/728) † | 2.7% (183/6731) | 19.0% (257/1355) ‡ | 0.1% (9/6839) |
| Initiation of K supplement within 60 days | 15.7% (452/2880) ‡ | 4.2% (776/18608) | 3.7% (59/1611) | 4.5% (1692/37502) |
ACEI = angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, ARB = angiotensin receptor blockers, K = potassium. Control was matched on frequency of potassium measurements (<2, 2 to <4 and ≥4 measurements per year).
†p<0.01,
‡p<0.001