Aetiology of hyperkalaemia in hospital inpatients.
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.


CONCLUSIONS
Potassium supplementation and other iatrogenic conditions lead to hyperkalaemia in inpatients. Males are at increased risk for hyperkalaemia.
Thomas
N
N
Department of Medicine, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Tamil Nadu, India.
John
G T
GT
Jacob
C K
CK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000209:etiology*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution