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. 2022 Apr 1;23:65. doi: 10.1186/s12875-022-01667-1

Table 2.

HK frequency – baseline characteristics and post-index outcomes

Transient
n = 82,307 (52%)
Intermittent
n = 72,382 (45%)
Persistent
n = 5,150 (3%)
P-value
Mean age (years) 57 ± 19 63 ± 16 68 ± 17  < 0.0001
Age categories  < 0.0001
  < 65 years 64% 48% 40%
  65–74 years 16% 24% 20%
  ≥ 75 years 20% 28% 40%
Sex (male) 49% 53% 56%  < 0.0001
CCI 3.1 ± 2.7 3.8 ± 2.8 4.3 ± 3.1  < 0.0001a
Mean baseline sK (mmol/L)b 5.3 ± 0.5 5.4 ± 0.5 5.6 ± 0.6  < 0.0001
Traditional CV Risk Factors
  Hypertension 52% 74% 73%  < 0.0001
  Hyperlipidaemia 49% 63% 55%  < 0.0001
  Diabetes 23% 43% 43%  < 0.0001
  Smoking 24% 29% 27%  < 0.0001
  Renal insufficiency 10% 23% 30%  < 0.0001
  BMI categories (kg/m2)  < 0.0001
    < 25 31% 27% 32%
    25–29.9 32% 30% 28%
    ≥ 30 37% 43% 40%

  Maximum SBP

(mm Hg)

158 ± 82 168 ± 64 168 ± 49  < 0.0001
  EF (%) 58 ± 13 57 ± 14 58 ± 13  < 0.0001
Prior Diagnoses
  ASCVD 15% 26% 25%  < 0.0001
  CAD 5% 10% 9%  < 0.0001
  MI 3% 5% 4%  < 0.0001
  Stroke 1% 2% 2%  < 0.0001
  TIA 3% 4% 4%  < 0.0001
  PVD 0.7% 1% 1%  < 0.0001
  Heart failure 13% 27% 30%  < 0.0001
  Atrial fibrillation 10% 17% 19%  < 0.0001
Baseline Medications
  Statin 33% 46% 41%  < 0.0001
  Other anti-diabetic 6% 13% 14%  < 0.0001
  Insulin 17% 32% 33%  < 0.0001
  Metformin 13% 22% 23%  < 0.0001
  Sulfonylurea 7% 16% 18%  < 0.0001
  NSAID 61% 65% 59%  < 0.0001
  ACEi 30% 47% 48%  < 0.0001
  ARB 13% 20% 18%  < 0.0001
  Aldosterone inhibitor 25% 39% 37%  < 0.0001
  Beta-blocker 4% 9% 8%  < 0.0001
  Diuretic 33% 52% 50%  < 0.0001
  CCB 17% 27% 28%  < 0.0001
  Furosemide 17% 32% 34%  < 0.0001
  Torsemide 0.7% 2% 2%  < 0.0001
  SPS 0.1% 0.7% 1%  < 0.0001
  Patiromer 0% 0% 0%
3-Year Post-Index Outcomes (n = 145,173)
n = 73,036 n = 67,486 n = 4,651
  MACEc 14.8% 21.3% 44.8%  < 0.0001
  Death 14.1% 17.7% 44.2%  < 0.0001
  MI 0.1% 0.3% 0.04%  < 0.0001
  Stroke 0.6% 1.2% 0.5%  < 0.0001
  HFH 0.9% 5% 1.8%  < 0.0001
Multivariable Hazard Ratio (95% CI) for 3-Year MACEc
  Persistent vs transient HK 2.31 (2.20, 2.43), P < 0.0001
  Intermittent vs transient HK 1.02 (0.99, 1.05), P = 0.08
Post-Index Average Costs/Year
  ED
    Cost ± SD $422 ± 4,221 $620 ± 2,305 $1,737 ± 37,846  < 0.0001a
    Median (IQR) 0 (0, 274) 165 (0, 580) 0 (0, 70)
    1-year visit (primary diagnosis) 0.01% 0.3% 0.7%  < 0.0001a
  Inpatient
    Cost ± SD $5,047 ± 51,691 $16,478 ± 108,826 $30,011 ± 245,519  < 0.0001a
    Median (IQR) 0 (0, 1347) 2681 (0, 9661) 0 (0, 1488)
    1-year visit (primary diagnosis) 0.004% 0.3% 0.9%  < 0.0001a

ACEi Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, ARB Angiotensin-II receptor blockers, ASCVD Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, BMI Body mass index, CAD Coronary artery disease, CCB Calcium channel blocker, CCI Charlson Comorbidity Index, CV Cardiovascular, ED Emergency department, EF Ejection fraction, HFH Heart failure hospitalization, HK Hyperkalaemia, IQR Interquartile range, MACE Major adverse CV event, MI Myocardial infarction, NSAID Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, PVD Peripheral vascular disease, SBP Systolic blood pressure, SD Standard deviation, sK Serum potassium, SPS Sodium polystyrene sulfonate, TIA Transient ischaemic attack

Models adjusted by baseline characteristics, risk factors, and medications

aThe non-parametric Mann–Whitney rank sum test was utilized to determine P-value

bTaken within ± 1 month of index date (baseline sK level)

cMACE is the composite of death, MI, stroke, and HFH