02/19/2019 / By Michelle Simmons
A study finds that people with heart failure who also have abnormally high levels of potassium in the blood, also known as hyperkalemia, have a higher risk of heart failure readmission and death. The study, which was published in the European Journal of Internal Medicine, looked at whether hyperkalemia at admission predicts one-year outcomes in elderly patients admitted for acute heart failure.
In conclusion, the findings suggest that previously hospitalized elderly due to heart failure are at a higher risk of being readmitted and dying due to heart failure if they also have abnormally high potassium levels.
To read more studies on the effects of potassium on the heart, visit HeartDisease.news.
Journal Reference:
Formiga F, Chivite D, Corbella X, Conde-Martel A, Arevalo-Lorido JC, Trullàs JC, Silvestre JP, Garcia SC, Manzano L, Montero-Perez-Barquero M. INFLUENCE OF POTASSIUM LEVELS ON ONE-YEAR OUTCOMES IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH ACUTE HEART FAILURE. European Journal of Internal Medicine. February 2019; 60: 24-30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejim.2018.10.016
Tagged Under: cardiovascular death, cardiovascular disease, death, heart disease, heart failure, heart health, hospitalization, hyperkalemia, mortality, potassium, readmission