A study on serum potassium abnormalities among patients in a teritiary care hospital

Abstract

Background
Hypokalemia and hyperkalemia are common electrolyte disorders seen in the medical ward. It is can be due to alteration in potassium intake, potassium excretion or transcellular shift. Potassium disorder can lead to life threatening cardiac conduction disturbances and neuromuscular dysfunction.
Aims and objectives
This study focuses on assessing the clinical profile of potassium abnormalities among patients admitted in medical wards of Saveetha Medical college Hospital, Chennai.
Materials and methods
A retrospective study was done among patients admitted in Saveetha medical college hospital during a period of 6 months from May 2016 to Oct 2016. A semi-structured questionnaire containing the socio-demographic variables was prepared. Bio chemical variable like serum potassium were taken into account and the data was analyzed using SPSS 11.5 version.
Results
The major causes of hypokalemia in our hospital are as follows: acute gastroenteritis 32%, diuretics 24%, alcohol dependence syndrome 20 %, diabetic ketoacidosis 12%, hypokalemic periodic paralysis 8% , infection 4% . Hyperkalemia causes in our medical ward are as follows: chronic kidney disease 56% , acute kidney injury 20%, angiotensin converting enzyme 12% , angiotensin receptor blocker 8% , potassium sparing diuretics 4% .
Conclusion This study emphasizes the common causes of potassium abnormalities among the patient admitted in medical wards. The most common cause of hyperkalemia and hypokalemia in our hospital is chronic kidney disease and acute gastroenteritis respectively. Hyperkalemia and hypokalemia is one of factors to cause cardiac arrhythmia, thus routine measurement of serum potassium is warranted in all the patients admitted in ward for early detection of any possible derangements.