1. Gumz ML, Rabinowitz L, Wingo CS. An Integrated View of Potassium Homeostasis. N Engl J Med. 2015;373(1):60-72.2. Kosiborod M, Peacock WF, Packham DK. Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate for Urgent Therapy of Severe Hyperkalaemia. N Engl J Med. 2015;372(16):1577-153. National Kidney Foundation. "Clinical Update on Hyperkalaemia." 2014. https://www.kidney.org/sites/default/files/02-10-6785_HBE_Hyperkalemia_Bulletin.pdf. Accessed 24 January 2017.4. Kovesdy CP. Management of Hyperkalaemia: an Update for the Internist. Am J Med. 2015; doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2015.05.040.5. Lehnhardt A, Kemper MJ. Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Management of Hyperkalaemia. Pediatr Nephrol. 2011;26(3):377-384.7.6. Einhorn LM, Zhan M, Hsu VD, et al. The frequency of hyperkalemia and its significance in chronic

Hyperkalaemia is a serious electrolyte condition characterised by high levels of potassium in the blood. Increased levels of potassium can cause a disruption of critical bodily processes, such as how the heart pumps.1

Severe hyperkalaemia is particularly dangerous and can be fatal.2 Patients with chronic kidney disease are at a higher risk for hyperkalaemia; as CKD progresses and kidney function declines, potassium levels in the blood increase.3

What is hyperkalaemia?

kidney disease. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(12):1156-1162. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2009.132.7. Perazella MA, Khan S. Increased Mortality in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Call to Action. Am J Med. 2006; 331 (3): 150-153.8. Dunn JD, Benton WW, Orozco-Torrentera E, Adamson RT. The burden of hyperkalemia in patients with cardiovascular and renal disease. Am J Manag Care. 2015 Nov;21(15Suppl):s30715 http://www.ajmc.com/journals/supplement/2015/A577_Nov15_Hypekalemia/a577_nov15_hyperkalemia/. Accessed 24 January 2017.9. An JN, Lee JP, Jeon HJ, et al. Severe hyperkalemia requiring hospitalization: predictors of mortality. Crit Care. 2012; 16(6):R225 http://ccforum.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/cc11872. Accessed 24 January 2017.10. Berkova M, Berka Z, Topinka E. Arrhythmias and ECG changes in life threatening hyperkalemia in older patients treated by potassium sparing drugs. Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc

Czech Repub. 2014;158(1):84-91. doi:10.5507/bp.2012.087. Epub 2012 Oct 31.11. Ojo, Akinlolu. “Addressing the Global Burden of Chronic Kidney Disease Through Clinical and Translational Research.” Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association. 125 (2014):229–246. Print.12. American Heart Association. “Life-Threatening Electrolyte Abnormalities.” 2005; Circulation. 2005;112:IV-121-IV-125.

Many acute treatments for hyperkalaemia, such as sodium bicarbonate, insulin and beta-2-agonists, provide short-term relief by moving potassium from the outside of the cells to the inside.4,5

As opposed to acute management, long-term management of hyperkalaemia involves a low potassium diet and use of binding agents to remove excess potassium from the body.4

CKD affects an estimated

200 million people worldwide11

cause of mortality in CKD7

Hyperkalaemia is associated with increased risk of death within one day, regardless of kidney function6

Serum Potassium Levels*1,2,3

Severe Hyperkalaemia Serum potassium levels greater than 6.0 mEq/L

7

6

5

4

3

hrs

Approximately 50% of all emergency room visits for

hyperkalaemia result in a hospital admission

(with an average length of three days),

leading to a significant cost burden on

healthcare systems8

Cardiac arrest

Cardiac arrhythmia

Paralysis

Weakness

Potential Consequences of Severe Hyperkalaemia12

#1 The mortality rate for severe hyperkalaemia can be

more than 30%9 A study shows the mortality rate for untreated potassium levels greater than 7.0 mEq/L can be

as high as 67%10 ATLAS ID: 1,022,524.011Prepared: January 2017Expiry: January 2018

cardiovascular events are

Hyperkalaemia Serum potassium levels greater than 5.0 mEq/L

Normal Potassium LevelsSerum potassium levels between 3.5 and 5.0 mEq/L

Hypokalaemia Serum potassium levels less than 3.5 mEq/L

Hyperkalaemia affects up to

40-50%of patients with chronic kidney disease3

*The definition of abnormal potassium levels can vary