Hyperkalemia and the Use of New Potassium Binders a Single Center Experience from Vestfold Norway (The PotBind Study)

Abstract

Purpose

Hyperkalemia is a common metabolic complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated with several serious adverse events. We aimed to treat/prevent hyperkalemia using the new of potassium-binders, allowing maintained renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) treatment in proteinuric CKD and/or congestive heart failure (CHF) patients.

Patients and Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study in long-term users of potassium binders for chronic hyperkalemia. Patients aged 18 years and older, treated with potassium-binders and who met the reimbursement criteria and indication for RAASi treatment were included.

Results

Fifty-seven percent of the patients were males and mean age was 65 years. During the study period, no patients were admitted to hospital due to hyperkalemia after initiation of potassium binders. Potassium maximum values were significantly lower after treatment. Few patients reported major side effects, and discontinuation was mostly due to normokalemia. We found no significant changes in bicarbonate, serum creatinine or GFR stage after starting potassium binder treatment. All patients on RAASi treatment before initiating potassium-binders were retained on RAASi treatment.

Conclusion

New potassium binders in clinical practice are an easy and safe treatment with few side effects and good tolerance, that significantly lowers the risk of hyperkalemia. Furthermore, and most importantly, patients can be maintained on RAASi treatment.

Keywords:

• chronic kidney disease
• hyperkalemia
• potassium-binder
• RAASi
• CKD
• renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors

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Hyperkalemia and the Use of New Potassium Binders a Single Center Experience from Vestfold Norway (The PotBind Study) [Corrigendum]

Ethics Approval and Informed Consent

Informed consent did not apply for this study due to observational design, and the ethic committee waived the requirement for informed consent. Furthermore, it was not a requirement for this type of study under institutional guidelines and not from national laws. This study was registered at The Norwegian Center for Research Data (NSD) with NSD study reference nr: 549818. (The list for approved studies is officially available at https://minside.nsd.no/r/ms-549818). The study was registered at the hospital register for research studies. The study was conducted with respect to local and national GDPR. Vestfold Hospital Trust authority and local ethic committee approved this study.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, including conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

Sadollah Abedini has received honorarium for advisory board meetings from Vifor Pharma and AstraZeneca and limited research grant from Astra Zeneca Norway and Vifor pharma Norway. The other authors have not reported any conflict of interests regarding this work.