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Chiu M, Garg AX, Moist L, Jain AK. A New Perspective to Longstanding Challenges with Outpatient Hyperkalemia: A Narrative Review. Can J Kidney Health Dis 2023; 10:20543581221149710. [PMID: 36654931 PMCID: PMC9841831 DOI: 10.1177/20543581221149710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose of Review Outpatient hyperkalemia is a common problem with potentially deadly consequences. Potassium level thresholds to treat outpatient hyperkalemia are unstandardized and variable, leaving health care providers to rely on their own clinical judgment. This narrative review highlights the challenges of outpatient hyperkalemia management and includes recommendations for future studies that may standardize treatment, improve patient outcomes, and optimize health care utilization. Sources of Information PubMed, Google Scholar, and the reference lists of identified articles were used to include English, peer-reviewed studies and guidelines for this review. Methods This narrative review examines outpatient hyperkalemia from both a laboratory and clinical perspective. In addition to peer-reviewed literature, guidelines and expert consensus statements were included to highlight the inconsistencies and paucity of evidence that health care providers rely on to make clinical decisions. Key Findings There are multiple reasons why outpatient hyperkalemia management is both challenging and sub-optimal. Clinicians must discern if the potassium level result is accurate and, if so, does the result warrant referral to the emergency department. Factitious hyperkalemia, or falsely elevated potassium level results due to analytical errors, occurs frequently, but there are no ways to identify it other than for hemolyzed samples. Additionally, guidelines and expert panels are inconsistent on the thresholds for treatment and the management of hyperkalemia. Finally, there are inconsistencies between laboratories as to when and how providers are notified of results, and the suggested thresholds for urgent management. A study that integrates the expertise of clinical biochemists and clinicians is needed to inform evidence-based guidelines for the management of outpatient hyperkalemia. Limitations This was a comprehensive review of what is known and what still needs to be understood for the management of outpatient hyperkalemia. A formal tool to assess the quality of the included studies was not used and selection bias may have occurred.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Chiu
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, London Health Sciences Centre, Western University, London, ON, Canada,Kidney Clinical Research Unit, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada,Michael Chiu, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, London Health Sciences Centre, Western University, 800 Commissioners Rd E, Room A2-342 London, ON N6A 5W9 Canada.
| | - Amit X. Garg
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, London Health Sciences Centre, Western University, London, ON, Canada,Kidney Clinical Research Unit, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada,Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Louise Moist
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, London Health Sciences Centre, Western University, London, ON, Canada,Kidney Clinical Research Unit, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada,Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Arsh K. Jain
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, London Health Sciences Centre, Western University, London, ON, Canada,Kidney Clinical Research Unit, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada,Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
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Velagapudi V, O'Horo JC, Vellanki A, Baker SP, Pidikiti R, Stoff JS, Tighe DA. Computer-assisted image processing 12 lead ECG model to diagnose hyperkalemia. J Electrocardiol 2016; 50:131-138. [PMID: 27662777 DOI: 10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2016.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We sought to develop an improved 12 lead ECG model to diagnose hyperkalemia by use of traditional and novel parameters. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed ECGs in consecutive hyperkalemic patients (serum potassium (K)>5.3mEq/L) by blinded investigators with normokalemic ECGs as internal controls. Potassium levels were modeled using general linear mixed models followed by refit with standardized variables. Optimum sensitivity and specificity were determined using cut point analysis of ROC-AUC. RESULTS The training set included 236 ECGs (84 patients) and validation set 97 ECGs (23 patients). Predicted K=(5.2354)+(0.03434*descending T slope)+(-0.2329*T width)+(-0.9652*reciprocal of new QRS width>100msec). ROC-AUC in the validation set was 0.78 (95% CI 0.69-0.88). Maximum specificity of the model was 84% for K>5.91 with sensitivity of 63%. CONCLUSION ECG model incorporating T-wave width, descending T-wave slope and new QRS prolongation improved hyperkalemia diagnosis over traditional ECG analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venu Velagapudi
- Division of Renal Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA.
| | - John C O'Horo
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN
| | - Anu Vellanki
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA
| | - Stephen P Baker
- Division of Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA
| | - Rahul Pidikiti
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA
| | - Jeffrey S Stoff
- Division of Renal Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA
| | - Dennis A Tighe
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA
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