A multi-centre study of potassium deficiency in the elderly

Summary

Two-hundred and ten patients from general practice with a mean age of 75 years were assessed for the signs and symptoms of potassium deficiency, before and after receiving a potassium supplement (‘Slow-K’) 8.06 mEq. three times a day. The assessment included potassium and haemoglobin levels, diet, and symptomatic ratings. Following treatment, 86% of patients showed symptomatic improvement, and there was a highly significant increase in mean potassium levels from 3.8 to 4.4 mEq./l. Interestingly there was a slight but significant increase in mean haemoglobin levels from 12.1 to 12.8 g./100ml. It was not possible, because of the trial design, to correlate conclusively the symptomatic improvement with the therapy.

Key words: :

• Hypokalemia
• potassium chloride
• aged
• general practice
• diet