Are specific serum potassium levels within and outside the normal range associated with increased short-term mortality in chronic heart failure patients?
Both abnormal and high/low-normal serum potassium levels are associated with increased short-term mortality in chronic heart failure patients, suggesting a narrower optimal target range.
Levels within the lower and upper levels of the normal serum potassium range (3.5-4.1 mmol/L and 4.8-5.0 mmol/L, respectively) were associated with a significant increased short-term risk of death in chronic heart failure patients. Likewise, potassium below 3.5 mmol/L and above 5.0 mmol/L was also associated with increased mortality.
Aldahl et al. (Tue,) studied this question.