September 10, 2025

Study sheds light on hyperkalemia and emergency department visits

An analysis of health outcomes in Ontario spanning more than a decade found that 13 per cent of people with extreme hyperkalemia went to the emergency department within 24 hours of their condition being detected. 

Hyperkalemia is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by abnormally high levels of potassium in the blood. People with kidney disease are especially at risk. Michael Chiu, of the London Health Sciences Centre in Ontario, and colleagues analyzed health and laboratory records from more than 57,000 patients who had severe hyperkalemia (a potassium level of 6.2 mmol/L or higher) between 2007 and 2021. 

The results show that, although current guidelines recommend that people with severe hyperkalemia seek immediate emergency care, only 13 per cent of patients in this study were admitted to an emergency department within 24 hours of their test result. Those who did were more likely to have other health conditions—such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or congestive heart failure—as well as lower kidney function and higher medication use.  

The study also found that 1.2 per cent of patients died within seven days of when their severe hyperkalemia was first detected. However, the researchers note that the cause of death could not be confirmed given the nature of the study and may not have been directly related to hyperkalemia. More research is needed to better understand these outcomes.