Hypokalemia Predicts a Worse Peritoneal and Global Survival in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hypokalemia is frequently encountered in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Several studies revealed hypokalemic PD pateins had negative outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the impacts of hypokalemia on the incidence of peritonitis, mortality, peritoneal survival and dropout rates of PD patients. METHODS: Patients undergoing PD in our hospital for more than 3 months were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of hypokalemia and were followed up for three years. The demographic and biochemical data, incidence of peritonitis, peritoneal and patient survival and dropout rate were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 57 PD patients were followed up, with 23 being hypokalemic and 34 being normokalemic. There were no statistically significant difference in incidence of peritonitis (0.26 ± 0.45 vs. 0.44 ± 0.96, P = 0.41). Hypokalemic patients had worse survival (P = 0.01) and peritoneal survival (P = 0.04) than normokalemic ones. Hypokalemic patients were more prone to dropout than normokalemic ones (60.9% vs. 32.4%, P = 0.06) but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Hypokalemia has negative effect on peritoneal and patient survival, which contributed to higher dropout rate from peritoneal dialysis.