Hypokalemia is a very common electrolyte disorder. Between 4 and 5 % of all hospitalized patients have clinically significant hypokalemia1, which is defined by a serum potassium concentration of less than 3.0 mEq/L. Any degree of hypokalemia is present in people seen in the outpatient setting at a rate of 2-3%2. Hypokalemia is related to complications such as cardiac arrhythmias3 that may lead to sudden death and this is why it is feared.
The majority of people who have hypokalemia are the ones taking diuretics, also known as “water-pills”. Examples of common diuretics are hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, bumetanide, chlortalidone and torsemide. Up to 40% of people taking diuretics may develop hypokalemia4. The patients who take diuretics usually have congestive heart failure, hypertension, or coronary artery disease. Hypokalemia is also common in patients with chronic illnesses which lead to poor food intake and in people with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia.
References
David Garth, “Hypokalemia in Emergency Medicine,” Medscape, October 11, 2019, accessed May 3, 2019, https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/767448-overview#a6, paragraph 2.
Anthony Viera and Noah Wouk, “Potassium Disorders: Hypokalemia and Hyperkalemia,” American Family Physician 92, no. 6 (2015): 487, https://www.aafp.org/afp/2015/0915/p487.html.
Oleg Osadchii, “Mechanisms of Hypokalemia-induced Ventricular Arrhythmogenicity,” Fundamental and Clinical Pharmacology 24, no. 5 (2010): 547, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1472-8206.2010.00835.x
John Madias and Nicolaeus Madias, “Ventricular Ectopy and Diuretic-Induced Hypokalemia,” Chest 89, no. 5 (1986): 622, https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.89.5.622b.
Disclaimer
Any information or statement present in this post does not replace your health care provider’s advice or treatment. This blog does not provide medical advice, prescribe medications or therapies, or diagnose conditions, it only expresses an opinion. If you have a health-related question or condition, confer with your healthcare provider.
Quotations
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Ramos, Marco A. “Hypokalemia for Everyone. #3. How Common is Hypokalemia?” SMO Blog (blog), May 24, 2019. https://steemit.com/health/@secondmedicalop/hypokalemia-for-everyone-3-how-common-is-hypokalemia
Read the other sections of this series:
Introduction
What Causes Hypokalemia? A
What Causes Hypokalemia? B
What Causes Hypokalemia? C