Higher predialysis potassium level is independently associated with intradialytic hypotension in elderly and younger hemodialysis patients

Abstract

Introduction: Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients under maintenance hemodialysis (HD) treatment. Seeking factors associated with IDH may provide clinically relevant information.Materials and method: We enrolled a total of 103 patients receiving thrice-weekly HD. Besides hemodynamic and laboratory parameters, we evaluated nutritional status, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms.Results: Female subjects had a significantly higher rate of IDH compared to males (42.6% vs. 14.9%, p=0.003). Older patients (>= 65 years old) tended to have a higher rate of IDH compared to those younger than 65 years, but the difference was not statistically significant (31% vs. 21%, p=0.2). Univariate correlation analysis revealed gender, orthostatism, history of falls, dialysis duration, fasting glucose, albumin, and potassium levels to be correlated with IDH. Logistic regression analysis revealed that higher potassium level was the only independent factor in association with IDH.Conclusion: We observed an independent association between higher predialysis potassium levels and IDH. Further studies are needed to confirm this association and to see if measures to control predialysis potassium levels better would translate into a decreased rate of IDH in these patients.