[Hypokalemia--incidence and severity in a general hospital]

Abstract

In a retrospective study the frequency of hypokalemia was investigated in a large group of hospitalized patients. In a period of 1 year 33,426 patients were hospitalized, of these 1,177 (3.52%) revealed serum potassium level of less than or equal to 3.0 mmol/l. On admission to the hospital 592 (50.3%) showed serum potassium levels within normal range and developed their hypokalemia in the hospital. A severe hypokalemia equal or lower 2.5 mmol/l was observed only in 0.54% of the patients. Hypokalemia was frequently associated with cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and urogenital diseases following by diabetes mellitus and polytraumas. The main causes of hypokalemia were diuretics and gastrointestinal potassium loss. Severe hypokalemia (less than or equal to 2.5 mmol/l) is a predisposing factor for the occurrence of ectopic ventricular activity in patients with preexisting myocardial lesions like left ventricular hypertrophy or after myocardial infarction. Therefore in patients with preexisting myocardial lesions and severe hypokalemia potassium replacement therapy may be needed.