Influence of potassium levels on one-year outcomes in elderly patients with acute heart failure

• Published in: European journal of internal medicine 2019-02, Vol.60, p.24-30
• Main Authors: Formiga, Francesc, Chivite, David, Corbella, Xavier, Conde-Martel, Alicia, Arévalo-Lorido, José Carlos, Trullàs, Joan Carles, Silvestre, José Pérez, García, Sara Carrascosa, Manzano, Luis, Montero-Pérez-Barquero, Manuel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Heart failure; Hospitalization; Hyperkalemia; Mortality; Readmission
• ISSN: 0953-6205; 1879-0828
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2018.10.016

Abnormal serum potassium levels (K+) in patients with heart failure (HF) relate to worse prognosis. We evaluated whether admission K+ levels predict 1-year outcomes in elderly patients admitted for acute HF. We evaluated 2865 patients aged >74 years from the RICA Spanish Heart Failure Registry, classified according to admission serum K+ levels: hyperkalemia (>5.5 mmol/L), normokalemia (3.5–5.5 mmol/L) and hypokalemia (5.5 mmol/L and 1.08 (p = .618) and 0.90 (p = .533) respectively for K+ 5.5 mmol/L with the combined outcome of mortality and readmission (HR 1.15 [95% CI 1.04–1.27], p = .008). In patients hospitalized for decompensated HF, admission hyperkalemia predicts a higher mid-term risk for HF readmission and mortality, probably related to the significant higher risk of readmission. •Abnormal serum potassium (K+) values may be associated with poor health results in heart failure (HF) patients.•At admission, 3.38% of patients presented with hyperkalemia and 6.06% with hypokalemia.•Hyperkalemia at admission predicts a higher one-year-term risk for HF readmission and mortality.•Probably this association is related to the significant higher risk of readmission.