Hyperkalemia — serum potassium greater than approximately 5.0-5.5 mEq/L in adults — is associated with kidney disease, heart failure, a diet high in potassium, and drugs that impair renal potassium excretion. It can also appear in infants or children with certain genetic disorders. Other less common causes include poorly controlled diabetes, taking extra potassium as a supplement, burns or other severe injuries, and Addison disease. Hyperkalemia is not common in the general population but affects up to 10% of hospitalized patients. Moderate to severe hyperkalemia has been associated with adverse clinical outcomes, including serious or fatal complications (eg, muscle weakness, paralysis, cardiac conduction abnormalities, and cardiac arrhythmias), as well as significantly higher healthcare costs and resource use.
Owing to a lack of distinctive signs and symptoms, hyperkalemia can be difficult to diagnose. In fact, it is frequently discovered as an incidental laboratory finding. The physician must be quick to consider hyperkalemia in at-risk patients.
Are you familiar with the identification and treatment of hyperkalemia? Test your knowledge with this quick quiz.
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Cite this: Vecihi Batuman, A. Brent Alper. Fast Five Quiz: Can You Identify and Treat Hyperkalemia? - Medscape - Dec 03, 2021.
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