Evaluation of Potassium Levels in Congestive Heart Failure Patients:acase Control Study

AbstractHyper and hypokalemia is a common ionic imbalance in patient with heart failure. Increaseddeath and hospital stay is common in patients with HF and chronic kidney disease (CKD) whohave hypokalaemia. As hyper or hypokalaemia are potentially hazardous and frequentcomplication in heart failure patient it is important to identify patients who are at increased riskfor hypo and hyperkalaemia. The objective of this study was to identify socio-demographiccharacteristics, etiological factors and risk factors for hypo/hyperkalaemia in newly diagnosedpatients with heart failure. Heart failure patient details were retrospectively identified frommedical records using ICD 10 code I50.22. Ethical Committee approval was obtained beforestart of the study. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria patient’s files was reviewed fordemographic information, clinical data, laboratory parameters, medication history and drugsprescribed and was entered in case record forms (CRF). The obtained data was analyzed by usingSPSS software using Chi square test and Logistic regression and expressed as odds ratio (OR).Our finding may help to better identify patients with heart failure most likely to benefit fromcareful monitoring of serum potassium level. Improved vigilance is needed during start oftreatment with certain classes of drugs and co-morbid illness.