DOI: 10.36347/sasjm.2021.v07i03.001

Pages: 63-66

Background: Hyperkalemia is a potential threat to patient safety in chronic kidney disease¹.It is a common feature of chronic renal insufficiency.The most serious effect of hyperkalemia is cardiotoxicity which may lead to death.Patients with CKD may predispose to hyperkalemia for a variety of reasons. This study was done to see the frequency of hyperkalemia and it’s correlation with eGFR in CKD patients. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in Dhaka Medical College & Hospital, Dhaka over a period of six months. The patients of chronic kidney disease who were admitted in Medicine, Nephrology and Cardiology departments of this hospital were included in this study. A semi-structured proforma was prepared for this study purpose containing patient’s profile, list of all the relevant symptoms, signs with the results of laboratory tests. Result: Among study population of 100,64% were male and 36% were female giving a male to female ratio of 1:0.56.Among study population 25% had hyperkalemia; 17% had mild to moderate hyperkalemia with S.K 5.5-6.9 mmol/l; 8% had severe hyperkalemia with S.K+≥7 mmol/l. Among 25 hyperkalemic patients 68% had S.K+ level between 5.5-6.9 mmol/l;16% belonged CKD Stage -IV and 52% belonged CKD Stage-V.10% of study population had typical ECG changes of hyperkalemia;20% had Stage-IV CKD and 80% had Stage-V CKD. In Stage-V CKD one patient had ventricular tachycardia and another one had second degree AV block in ECG. Conclusion: The prevalence of CKD is increasing rapidly in our country. Late stages (stage 4 or 5) of CKD may be associated with a variety metabolic disturbances. One such disturbance hyperkalemia is of great concern because of its possible life threating complications. Frequency of hyperkalemia is increased with progressive decline of eGFR.