Serum potassium is an age-dependent risk factor for pre-diabetes and diabetes in the Israeli population.
OBJECTIVE
We analysed the association between serum potassium, within the normal range, and early signs of diabetes in an Israeli population.


METHODS
A computerized database of the Clalit Health Services was used for obtaining information regarding patients' baseline serum potassium levels. The main study outcome was dysglycaemia, defined as fasting glucose > 100 mg/dL, HbA1C > 6.5 gr% (48 mmol/mol) or a new diagnosis of diabetes. A secondary outcome was overt diabetes.


RESULTS
Included in the study were 71,597 patients, mean age 40.8 ± 13.4 years. After a mean follow-up period of 5.3 ± 2.2 years, dysglycaemia decreased [odds ratio (OR) = 0.95; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.906-0.997; p = 0.038], as did the incidence of overt diabetes (OR = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.793-0.934; p = 0.0001), for every 1 mmol/L elevation in serum potassium in the normal range. But analysis of subpopulation reveals that when elevated serum potassium was associated with low adjusted ORs for predicting dysglycaemia (OR = 0.904 with a 95% CI of 0.849-0.963; p = 0.002), the opposite effect was demonstrated over the age of 41 years (OR = 1.113 with a 95% CI of 1.048-1.104; p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates age-related association between serum potassium and the risk of dysglycaemia.
Nephrology Division, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel.
Keren
K
Doenyas-Barak
Ilia
I
Beberashvili
Shlomo
S
Vinker
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood*; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
D001786:Blood Glucose; D011188:Potassium
Type 2 diabetes; dysglycaemia; potassium level; pre-diabetes