REVIEW Potassium
Research type
Research Study
Full title
BuRden of hyperkalaemia and EValuatIon of changEs to therapy With renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors following episodes of elevated Potassium
IRAS ID
260265
Contact name
Paul R Kalra
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 30 days
Research summary
High potassium level in blood (hyperkalaemia) is one of the reasons for admission to hospital. It can also develop during a hospital stay. High levels of potassium can lead to life threatening arrhythmias therefore healthcare professionals are worried when potassium levels are high. There might be different causes of hyperkalaemia - for example, impaired kidney function, severe infection (sepsis). Some medications, including renin-angiotensinaldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi), can contribute to or cause hyperkalaemia. RAASi include medications such as ramipril, candesartan, spironolactone and others, they are good for the heart muscle and help to make people with certain heart conditions (heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF)) live longer and have fewer hospital admissions.
Sometimes patients with high potassium levels have their RAASi medications stopped or reduced. Currently we have a limited understanding how often patients who are in hospitals present or develop hyperkalaemia and how often this leads to stopping/reducing RAASi. In addition, it is poorly understood how often hyperkalaemia prevents healthcare professionals achieve optimal doses of RAASi in patients with new diagnosis of HFrEF. Even less is known about how healthcare professionals approach the management of different levels of hyperkalaemia, and how it impacts on the way they adjust the doses of RAASi for a variety medical conditions. This includes patients who have a diagnosis of HFrEF.
In the proposed study we will look at how common is hyperkalaemia in patients attending emergency department and those who are admitted to hospital, and what happens to RAASi medications in these patients. Also we include patients with new diagnosis of HFrEF and how often these patients develop hyperkalaemia over 1 year as their RAASi drugs are optimised (according to recommendations on treating patients with HFrEF). Finally we have a questionnaire looking at decision making process of health-care professionals who are likely to treat patients with hyperkalaemia.
REC name
South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/SC/0044
Date of REC Opinion
22 Feb 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion