Hyperkalemia In Chronic Kidney Disease Research Articles

Does dietary potassium intake associate with hyperkalemia in patients with chronic kidney disease?

Dietary potassium restriction is a strategy to control hyperkalemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, hyperkalemia may result from a combination of clinical conditions. This study aimed to investigate whether dietary potassium or the intake of certain food groups associate with serum potassium in the face of other risk factors. We performed a cross-sectional analysis including a nondialysis-dependent CKD (NDD-CKD) cohort and a hemodialysis (HD) cohort. Dietary potassium intake was assessed by 3-day food records. Underreporters with energy intake lower than resting energy expenditure were excluded. Hyperkalemia was defined as serum potassium >5.0 mEq/L. The NDD-CKD cohort included 95 patients {median age 67 [interquartile range (IQR) 55-73] years, 32% with diabetes mellitus (DM), median estimated glomerular filtration rate 23 [IQR 18-29] mL/min/1.73 m2} and the HD cohort included 117 patients [median age 39 (IQR 18-67) years, 50% with DM]. In NDD-CKD, patients with hyperkalemia (36.8%) exhibited lower serum bicarbonate and a tendency for higher serum creatinine, a higher proportion of DM and the use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers, but lower use of sodium bicarbonate supplements. No association was found between serum and dietary potassium (r = 0.01; P = 0.98) or selected food groups. Conditions associated with hyperkalemia in multivariable analysis were DM {odds ratio [OR] 3.55 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-11.72]} and metabolic acidosis [OR 4.35 (95% CI 1.37-13.78)]. In HD, patients with hyperkalemia (50.5%) exhibited higher serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen and lower malnutrition inflammation score and a tendency for higher dialysis vintage and body mass index. No association was found between serum and potassium intake (r = -0.06, P = 0.46) or food groups. DM [OR 4.22 (95% CI 1.31-13.6)] and serum creatinine [OR 1.50 (95% CI 1.24-1.81)] were predictors of hyperkalemia in multivariable analyses. Dietary potassium was not associated with serum potassium or hyperkalemia in either NDD-CKD or HD patients. Before restricting dietary potassium, the patient's intake of potassium should be carefully evaluated and other potential clinical factors related to serum potassium balance should be considered in the management of hyperkalemia in CKD.

Handouts for Low-Potassium Diets Disproportionately Restrict Fruits and Vegetables

Several recent publications, including an expert summary on hyperkalemia management, have encouraged plant-based foods for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and highlighted the impact of potassium additives on total potassium intake. The aim of this research brief was to investigate if and/or how current recommendations for low-potassium diet may incorporate these new recommendations. Using a geographical approach, each province's and territory's government health and renal program (where applicable) website was reviewed for resources on dietary potassium restriction. All handouts/booklets/printable webpages were obtained and reviewed. Eighteen resources from 6 provincial health agencies in Canada were included. Six additional resources from national agencies were also included, 4 from Canada and 2 from the United States. The 5 most commonly restricted foods were bananas, potatoes, oranges, cantaloupe, and avocados. All resources recommended restriction of fruits and vegetables, 67% recommended restriction of dairy products, 57% recommended restriction of whole grain products, 62% recommended restrictions of plant-based proteins, and 67% mentioned restriction of other foods (such as coffee, tea, and chocolate), 28% mentioned restriction of potassium additives in ultraprocessed foods. Low-potassium diets primarily restrict fruits and vegetables while the least common restriction is ultraprocessed food. Several recent publics have recommended a greater focus on ultraprocessed versus unprocessed food for hyperkalemia management. These new recommendations differ from current teaching materials that predominately restrict plant-based foods to manage hyperkalemia in CKD. Updates will likely be needed to current resources to reflect new recommendations.

P0671THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN HYPERKALAEMIA RISK AND CARDIOVASCULAR AND RENAL COMORBIDITIES IN A LARGE REAL-WORLD COHORT OF CKD PATIENTS

Abstract Background and Aims Approximately 275.9 million people globally and 5.6 million people in the UK are living with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The risk of hyperkalaemia (HK) is elevated in CKD due to renal impairment and may increase further upon treatment with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors, which are commonly used in many cardiovascular and renal conditions. This study aimed to assess the relationship between comorbidity burden and HK risk in a large cohort of UK CKD patients. Method Primary and secondary care data from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) and linked Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) were used to identify patients aged ≥18 years who had a diagnosis of stage 3+ CKD (identified as either a READ code for non-dialysis CKD stage 3+ or an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73m2 without a prior READ code for dialysis) during the study period (2008–June 2018) or the five-year look-back period (2003–2007). Patient’s index date was 1st January 2008 or the first date of CKD diagnosis, whichever occurred later. Diagnoses based on the presence of READ codes were used to define the accumulation of further cardiovascular or renal comorbidities of interest (resistant hypertension, heart failure, diabetes or dialysis-dependent CKD). The incidence of HK was defined as serum potassium (K+) thresholds of ≥5.0, ≥5.5 and ≥6.0 mmol/L. Results In total, 297,702 eligible patients had a CKD diagnosis during the study or look back periods and their mean follow-up was 5.6 (SD 3.2) years from index date. At baseline, mean age was 74.7 (11.3) years, mean body mass index was 28.3 (5.9) kg/m2, and 58.6% of patients were female. CKD was the first diagnosis in 169,532 patients (56.9% of all CKD diagnoses), second diagnosis in 92,651 patients (31.1%), third in 32,606 patients (11.0%) and fourth or fifth in 2,913 patients (1.0%); however, only 11,129 CKD patients (3.74%) developed four or more comorbidities of interest. In total, 1.5% of the cohort (4,544 patients) progressed to dialysis and 29.6% (88,245 patients) died during the study period. In general, the incidence of HK increased with the number of comorbidities of interest (Figure 1). At a K+ threshold of ≥5.0 mmol/L, crude incidence rate of HK was 286.5 (95% CI: 285.2–287.8) per 1,000 patient-years in patients with CKD only; this increased 2.8-fold to 806.8 (741.5–876.4) in patients with five comorbidities of interest. A similar trend was observed at K+ thresholds of ≥5.5 mmol/L and ≥6.0 mmol/L. A 5.9 fold increase was observed in crude incidence rate of HK (from 59.7 [59.1–60.3] with CKD only, to 350.3 [307.7–397.1] with all five comorbidities) at a threshold of ≥5.5 mmol/L and a 10.6-fold increase (from 9.1 [8.9–9.4] to 96.2 [74.6–122.2]) at the ≥6.0 mmol/L threshold. Conclusion This assessment of a large real-world patient cohort showed that the risk of HK in patients with CKD increases with the number of cardiovascular or renal comorbidities. Emphasis should be put on effective prevention and treatment of HK in CKD, especially in patients with high comorbidity burden.

Hyperkalemia in chronic kidney disease.

Hyperkalemia is a frequent finding in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This increase in serum potassium levels is associated with decreased renal ion excretion, as well as the use of medications to reduce the progression of CKD or to control associated diseases such as diabetes mellitus and heart failure. Hyperkalemia increases the risk of cardiac arrhythmia episodes and sudden death. Thus, the control of potassium elevation is essential for reducing the mortality rate in this population. Initially, the management of hyperkalemia includes orientation of low potassium diets and monitoring of patients' adherence to this procedure. It is also important to know the medications in use and the presence of comorbidities to guide dose reduction or even temporary withdrawal of any of the potassium retention-related drugs. And finally, the use of potassium binders is indicated in both acute episodes and chronic hyperkalemia.

Epidemiology of hyperkalemia in chronic kidney disease

BackgroundHyperkalaemia is a significant electrolyte imbalance in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) have beneficial cardio-renal properties, although they can often cause hyperkalaemia. ObjectiveTo examine the prevalence of hyperkalaemia in CKD, identify factors associated with its appearance and the relationship between hyperkalaemia and mortality. Patients and methodsRetrospective observational study on patients with CKD in the period 1971–2017. The population was categorised into 3 groups: Group 1, patients with CKD without renal replacement therapy; Group 2, patients on haemodialysis; and Group 3, patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. ResultsA total of 2629 patients were evaluated. The prevalence observed in the different groups was: 9.6%, 16.4% and 10.6%, respectively. Risk factors related to the appearance of hyperkalaemia in the CKD group were glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (p<0.001), plasma creatinine (p<0.001), plasma sodium (p<0.001), haemoglobin (p=0.028), diastolic blood pressure (p=0.012), intake of ACE inhibitors and/or angiotensin ii receptor blockers (p=0.008), treatment with metformin (p<0.001) and diabetes (p=0.045). Treatment with RAASi significantly increased hyperkalaemia as GFR decreased, as well as in patients with diabetes or heart failure. ConclusionsHyperkalaemia is a frequent metabolic alteration in CKD patients that increases in the presence of drugs with beneficial cardio-renal properties (RAASi), which means that patients often lose the benefit associated with these drugs. New, recently appearing non-absorbable compounds, which bind to potassium in the gastrointestinal tract, enhancing faecal excretion and thus maintaining the cardio-renal benefit of the RAASi, could be relevant in the progress of patients with CKD.

Epidemiología de la hiperpotasemia en la enfermedad renal crónica

BackgroundHyperkalaemia is a significant electrolyte imbalance in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) have beneficial cardio-renal properties, although they can often cause hyperkalaemia. ObjectiveTo examine the prevalence of hyperkalaemia in CKD, identify factors associated with its appearance and the relationship between hyperkalaemia and mortality. Patients and methodsRetrospective observational study on patients with CKD in the period 1971-2017. The population was categorised into 3groups: Group 1, patients with CKD without renal replacement therapy; Group 2, patients on haemodialysis; and Group 3, patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. ResultsA total of 2,629 patients were evaluated. The prevalence observed in the different groups was: 9.6%, 16.4% and 10.6%, respectively. Risk factors related to the appearance of hyperkalaemia in the CKD group were glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (P<.001), plasma creatinine (P<.001), plasma sodium (P<.001), haemoglobin (P=.028), diastolic blood pressure (P=.012), intake of ACE inhibitors and/or angiotensin ii receptor blockers (P=.008), treatment with metformin (P<.001) and diabetes (P=.045). Treatment with RAASi significantly increased hyperkalaemia as GFR decreased, as well as in patients with diabetes or heart failure. ConclusionsHyperkalaemia is a frequent metabolic alteration in CKD patients that increases in the presence of drugs with beneficial cardio-renal properties (RAASi), which means that patients often lose the benefit associated with these drugs. New, recently-appearing non-absorbable compounds, which bind to potassium in the gastrointestinal tract, enhancing faecal excretion and thus maintaining the cardio-renal benefit of the RAASi, could be relevant in the progress of patients with CKD.

Advances in the management of hyperkalemia in chronic kidney disease.

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have an increased risk of hyperkalemia that increases both short-term and long-term mortality. Historically, managing hyperkalemia has relied upon dietary modifications, augmentation of urinary potassium excretion and enhanced enteral potassium elimination. This review discusses current treatments and their limitations and summarizes the evidence supporting novel agents for potassium lowering in patients with CKD. The introduction of two novel ion exchange resins represents the first new pharmacologic therapies for hyperkalemia in the last 50 years. Patiromer, which was recently approved for use in the United States, has been shown to be well tolerated and effective for decreasing serum potassium in patients with CKD when taken for up to a year. Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate for which approval is pending has also shown promise in treating both acute and chronic hyperkalemia in patients with CKD. Both medications have been well tolerated with minimal adverse events in relatively short-term follow-up. Novel ion exchange resins have the potential to provide new strategies for safely and effectively managing hyperkalemia in the CKD population. This may decrease morbidity and mortality associated with hyperkalemia and allow more broad use of medications whose use is otherwise limited by hyperkalemia.

Management of hyperkalaemia in chronic kidney disease.

Hyperkalaemia is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), in part because of the effects of kidney dysfunction on potassium homeostasis and in part because of the cluster of comorbidities (and their associated treatments) that occur in patients with CKD. Owing to its electrophysiological effects, severe hyperkalaemia represents a medical emergency that usually requires prompt intervention, whereas the prevention of hazardous hyperkalaemic episodes in at-risk patients requires measures aimed at the long-term normalization of potassium homeostasis. The options for effective and safe medical interventions to restore chronic potassium balance are few, and long-term management of hyperkalaemia is primarily limited to the correction of modifiable exacerbating factors. This situation can result in a difficult trade-off in patients with CKD, because drugs that are beneficial to these patients (for example, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system antagonists) are often the most prominent cause of their hyperkalaemia. Maintaining the use of these beneficial medications while implementing various strategies to control potassium balance is desirable; however, discontinuation rates remain high. The emergence of new medications that specifically target hyperkalaemia could lead to a therapeutic paradigm shift, emphasizing preventive management over ad hoc treatment of incidentally discovered elevations in serum potassium levels.

Mineralocorticoid receptor blockade-a novel approach to fight hyperkalaemia in chronic kidney disease.

Hyperkalaemia continues to be a major hazard of mineralocorticoid receptor blockade in an effort to retard the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). In cardiac patients on mineralocorticoid receptor blockade, RLY-5016 which captures K+ in the colon has been effective in reducing the risk of hyperkalaemia. This compound might be useful in CKD as well.

Hypercalcemia as a side effect of potassium binding agents.

Hypercalcemia is a potential adverse effect of calcium-containing ion exchange resins, often used in the treatment and prevention of hyperkalemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We describe a series of seven outpatients with moderate CKD (mean glomerular filtration rate estimated with the CKD-EPI formula 41.29 ± 10.83 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), presenting mild hypercalcemia in relation to the treatment with calcium polystyrene sulfonate. Serum calcium increased a mean of 0.91 ± 0.46 mg/dL, with a mean concomitant decrease of serum intact parathormone (iPTH) of 52.24 ± 49.29 ng/dL. After treatment withdrawal or dose reduction, we observed a recovery of serum calcium and iPTH values. Treatment with calcic potassium binders should be included in the differential diagnosis of hypercalcemia in patients with moderate CKD.