title: Drug utilization review of potassium chloride injection formulations available in a private hospital in kuching, sarawak, malaysia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The concentrated potassium chloride injection is a high-alert medication and replacing it with a pre-mixed formulation can reduce the risks associated with its use. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical characteristics of patients receiving different potassium chloride formulations available at a private institution. The study also assessed the effectiveness and safety of pre-mixed formulations in the correction of hypokalaemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective observational study consisting of 296 cases using concentrated and pre-mixed potassium chloride injections in 2011 in a private hospital in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 135 (45.6%) cases that received concentrated potassium chloride, and 161 (54.4%) cases that received pre-mixed formulations. The patients' clinical characteristics that were significantly related to the utilization of the different formulations were diagnosis (P < 0.001), potassium serum blood concentration (P < 0.05), and fluid overload risk (P < 0.05). The difference observed for the cases that achieved or maintained normokalaemia was statistically insignificant (P = 0.172). Infusion-related adverse effects were seen more in pre-mixes compared to concentrated formulations (6.8% versus 2.2%, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides insight into the utilization of potassium chloride injections at this specific institution. The results support current recommendations to use pre-mixed formulations whenever possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Normah Medical Specialist Centre, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Petra Jaya, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hirman
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Melissa
authors.forename: Sarriff
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Azmi
keywords: drug utilization evaluation; drug-use review; electrolytes; hypokalaemia; potassium chloride
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