Low Serum Potassium Levels and Clinical Outcomes in Peritoneal Dialysis-International Results from PDOPPS

Simon J. Davies, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Keele University, Keele, UK.
Junhui Zhao, Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Hal Morgenstern, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Jarcy Zee, Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Brian Bieber, Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Douglas S. Fuller, Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
James A. Sloand, JAS Renaissance, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Andreas Vychytil, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Hideki Kawanishi, Tsuchiya General Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
David W. Johnson, Department of Nephrology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Angela Yee-Moon Wang, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
Talerngsak Kanjananbuch, Center of Excellence in Kidney Metabolic Disorders and Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok Thailand.
Sarinya Boongird, Renal Unit, Department of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Thyago P. Moraes, Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Parana, Curitiba, Brazil.
Sunil V. Badve, St. George Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Ronald L. Pisoni, Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Jeffrey Perl, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2-1-2021

Journal

Kidney international reports

Volume

6

Issue

2

DOI

10.1016/j.ekir.2020.11.021

Keywords

PDOPPS; hypokalemia; mortality; peritoneal dialysis; peritonitis; potassium

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Hypokalemia, including normal range values <4 mEq/l, has been associated with increased peritonitis and mortality in patients with peritoneal dialysis. This study sought to describe international variation in hypokalemia, potential modifiable hypokalemia risk factors, and the covariate-adjusted relationship of hypokalemia with peritonitis and mortality. METHODS: Baseline serum potassium was determined in 7421 patients from 7 countries in the Peritoneal Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (2014-2017). Association of baseline patient and treatment factors with subsequent serum potassium <4 mEq/l was evaluated by logistic regression, whereas baseline serum potassium levels (4-month average and fraction of 4 months having hypokalemia) on clinical outcomes was assessed by Cox regression. RESULTS: Hypokalemia was more prevalent in Thailand and among black patients in the United States. Characteristics/treatments associated with potassium <4 mEq/l included protein-energy wasting indicators, lower urine volume, lower blood pressure, higher dialysis dose, greater diuretic use, and not being prescribed a renin-angiotensin system inhibitor. Persistent hypokalemia (all 4 months vs. 0 months over the 4-month exposure period) was associated with 80% higher subsequent peritonitis rates (at K <3.5 mEq/l) and 40% higher mortality (at K <4.0 mEq/l) after extensive case mix/potential confounding adjustments. Furthermore, adjusted peritonitis rates were higher if having mean serum K over 4 months <3.5 mEq/l versus 4.0-4.4 mEq/l (hazard ratio, 1.15 [95% confidence interval, 0.96-1.37]), largely because of Gram-positive/culture-negative infections. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent hypokalemia is associated with higher mortality and peritonitis even after extensive adjustment for patient factors. Further studies are needed to elucidate mechanisms of these poorer outcomes and modifiable risk factors for persistent hypokalemia.

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS