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Abstract Background and Aims Hyperkalemia (HK) is a common electrolyte abnormality mainly caused by reduced renal potassium excretion in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Potassium binders, such as sodium polystyrene sulfonates (SPS) are widely used but may lead to adverse gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, reducing their tolerability. Patiromer and sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC) are newer ion exchange resins for treatment of HK which may cause fewer GI side-effects. This study aims to evaluate the persistence to first- (SPS) and second-generation potassium binder (patiromer and SZC) treatment and the related clinical characteristics. Method In this observational study based on the DEMONSTRATE database, a novel national and regional database comprising laboratory data from six regions in central Sweden (18% of the Swedish population), linked to the national health registry data, we selected all patients in Sweden having at least one pharmacy dispensation of either first (SPS) or second (patiromer or SZC) generation potassium binder between July 2005 and December 2022. By semi-automatically interpreting the prescribed dosages in combination with the amount of medical supply, duration for each dispensation was estimated and episodes of potassium binder treatments were established. For all potassium binder episodes, we described patient characteristics and persistence to treatment. Results are mainly presented by treatment episodes and by strata of (a) all, (b) first and (c) second generation potassium binders. Results Between July 2005 and December 2022, we identified 68 133 treatment episodes of potassium binders for 32 424 patients (Table 1). Of these, 31 730 individuals and 66 309 treatment episodes were attributed to first generation (throughout the study period), and 1,276 individuals and 1,824 treatment episodes to second-generation potassium binders (between 2018-2022) Mean (SD) age was slightly lower in patients initiating second compared to first generation potassium binders; 68.5 (15.6) vs 65.2 (16.6) years. Potassium binder treatment was more common in men compared to women (66.9% vs. 33.1%) with similar gender distribution between first- and second-generation potassium binders. Comorbidities were more common in patients initiating treatment with second than first generation potassium binders, notably for heart failure (40.0% vs. 29.7%) and dialysis (38.8% vs 29.2%). RAASi and MRA were more often prescribed to the second generation potassium binders vs first; 70.8% vs 62.9% for RAASi and 18.8% vs. 8.5% for MRA. Second generation potassium binders were more commonly initiated in cardiology/internal medicine units (41.7% vs. 34.8%) and dialysis (38.8% vs. 29.2%). Persistence was higher among patients treated with second generation potassium binders (Fig. 1). Conclusion Second generation potassium binders were more often prescribed to younger patients that had more co-morbidities being slightly more persistent to treatment when compared to patients on first generation potassium binders.
Svensson et al. (Wed,) studied this question.