title: Community-acquired hypokalemia in elderly patients: related factors and clinical outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Electrolyte imbalance is a common problem affecting the elderly. Increased number of comorbidities and frequent use of drugs may contribute to increased risk of hypokalemia in the elderly. This study was performed to investigate the prevalence of community-acquired hypokalemia (CAH), risk factors for its development, related factors with hypokalemia, and morbidities and all-cause mortality rates (MR) of CAH in the elderly patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total of 36,361 patients aged above 65 years were screened retrospectively. Group 1 consisted of 269 elderly patients with potassium level ≤3.5 mmol/L, and group 2 (control group) consisted of 182 subjects with potassium level between 3.6 and 5.5 mmol/L. Etiologic factors of CAH, presence of comorbidities, duration of hospital stay, hospital cost, and clinical outcomes were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of hypokalemia was found 3.24% in patients aged above 65 years. Duration of hospital stay, presence of ≥2 comorbid diseases, hospital cost, and MR were significantly higher in group 1 compared to group 2 (p < 0.001 for all). Loop diuretics, hydrochlorothiazides, beta agonists, inadequate oral intake, and female gender were all independent risk factors for CAH in elderly patients. Patients with ≥2 comorbid diseases were found to have greater risk of hypokalemia than the patients with <2 comorbidities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Length of hospital stay, hospital cost, and MR were higher in elderly with CAH. Female gender, hydrochlorothiazides, loop diuretics, and ≥2 comorbid diseases are the leading risk factors associated with CAH in elderly.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Mersin University, 33079, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bardak
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Mersin University, 33079, Mersin, Turkey. k.turgutalp@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Turgutalp
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Mersin University, 33079, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Koyuncu
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Mersin University, 33079, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Harı
authors.affiliation: Department of Business Information and Biostatistic Management, Silifke School of Applied Technology and Management, Mersin University, Silifke/Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Helvacı
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ovla
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Istanbul Bahcesehir University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horoz
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Mersin University, 33079, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Mersin University, 33079, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kıykım
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002423:Cause of Death; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D049994:Sodium Potassium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D049994:Sodium Potassium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide; D011188:Potassium
keywords: Elderly; Gender; Hospital cost; Hypokalemia; Prevalence