Record linkage study of hypokalaemia in hospitalized patients

Abstract

Retrospective analysis of biochemical data from 58,167 hospital inpatients revealed that 21% developed hypokalaemia during hospitalization - in 5.2% the serum potassium was less than 3.0 mmol/l. Subsequent evaluation showed a positive correlation between hypokalaemia and both female sex and hospital mortality. Patients with leukaemia and lymphoid tumours, especially when receiving antibiotic or cytotoxic therapy, and patients with gastrointestinal malignancy were amongst those most frequently experiencing hypokalaemia. There was no significant association with cardiovascular disease. Drug and intravenous fluid administration accounted for the hypokalaemia in 56% of patients. While drug-related hypokalaemia was most commonly seen with diuretics, it was also apparent following use of steroids, insulin and haematinics. © The Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine, 1986.