Prevalence, characteristics, and associated factors of dyskalemia in Moroccan intensive care units over a 28-month period: A cross-sectional correlational study.

INTRODUCTION

Dyskalemia disturbs electrophysiological homeostasis and even cause several life-threatening conditions. Improved understanding of dyskalemia risk factors is clinically relevant for prompt and effective dyskalemia treatment. This study aims to analyze dyskalemia prevalence and risk factors in two adult medical and surgical intensive care units (ICUs) in a Moroccan university hospital.

METHODS

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from January 1st 2022 to April 30, 2024. A total of 1274 patients' medical records were examined, yielding for 549 dyskalemic patients. Single-factor and multi-factor logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate associations between dyskalemia and the risk factors related to patients' characteristics, comorbidities, and therapeutic agents.

RESULTS

The prevalence of dyskalemia was found at 43%, with a dyskalemic patients' mean age of 48,3 (±18,6). Over 62% of them developed dyskalemia during ICU stay. Multivariable analyses showed that the risk of hypokalemia was associated to female gender, diabetic ketoacidosis, anticancer drugs, heparin (LMWH), and insulin. However, the risk of hyperkalemia was associated with male gender, chronic kidney failure, metabolic acidosis, burns, blood transfusion, and propofol as a sedative agent.

CONCLUSION

Several associated factors of the risk of dyskalemia were identified. Critical care nurses should pay particular attention to high-risk patients of dyskalemia and be proactive in identifying early signs of dyskalemia in order to achieve targeted risk assessment, improve early diagnosis, and management of the patients' conditions.