. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2020 Nov 6.

Published in final edited form as: Semin Dial. 2017 Jan 8;30(2):112–120. doi: 10.1111/sdi.12573

Table 5.

Epidemiologic studies of dialysate potassium

Study	N	Population	Outcomes	Major Results	Strengths	Limitations
Karnik⁶¹, 2001	5,744,708 (HD sessions)	Fresenius	Cardiac arrest during HD	↑risk with DK<=1.0	Large population	No adjustment for comorbid conditions, or medications
Bleyer⁶², 2006	80	Five linked dialysis programs	Sudden death	↑risk with low SK	Standard definition of sudden death; chart review	No controls; incomplete ascertainment
Kovesdy⁶⁴, 2007	81,013	DaVita	All-cause death, CV death	↑risk with SK<4 or >5.5	Large population; adjustment for MICS	Potential confounding by indication and by comorbid conditions
Pun⁶³, 2010	2,134	DaVita	Sudden cardiac death	↑risk with DK<2	Adjustment for comorbid conditions and medications	Retrospective; limited to in-center deaths
Jadoul⁶⁵, 2012	37,765	DOPPS	All-cause death, sudden death	↑risk with DK<1.5 or DK 2.0–2.5	Large population; adjustment for medications	Observational data;
Karaboyas⁶⁶, 2017	55,183	DOPPS	all-cause death, arrhythmia	DK 2.0 vs. 3.0 equivalent in risk DK not linked to SK	Large population	Observational data with missingness imputed; prescribed DK, not actual

HD, hemodialysis; DK, dialysate potassium; SK, serum potassium; CV, cardiovascular; DOPPS, Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study