Prevalence and Related Factors of Hypokalemia in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke.

AIM

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of hypokalemia in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

METHODS

A cohort of 996 patients was assessed using a general data questionnaire, laboratory indicators, the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS), the Barthel Index (BI), the Frail scale, Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS-2002), and the Kubota drinking water test.

RESULTS

Among the 996 patients, 205 (20.6%) were found to have hypokalemia. Logistic regression analysis identified several independent predictors of hypokalemia: age (OR 1.020, 95% CI 1.001-1.039, P=0.041), hypertension (OR 2.691, 95% CI 1.190-6.089, P=0.017), Frail score (OR 1.756, 95% CI 1.034-2.981, P=0.037), Kubota drinking water test grade 3 (OR 2.124, 95% CI 1.055-4.276, P=0.035), Kubota drinking water test grade 4 (OR 3.016, 95% CI 1.113-8.174, P=0.037), NIHSS score (OR 1.135, 95% CI 1.018-1.264, P=0.022), platelet count (OR 0.997, 95% CI 0.994-0.999, P=0.021), and urea nitrogen levels (OR 0.833, 95% CI 0.750-0.926, P=0.001).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of hypokalemia is high in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Independent risk factors included age, hypertension, frailty, neurological function, swallowing function, platelet count and blood urea level.