Hyperkalemia (Raised Potassium) Triage Questionnaire

Hyperkalemia, defined as elevated serum potassium levels exceeding 5.1 mmol/L (with some guidelines considering a threshold of 5.3 mmol/L or higher), is a significant clinical concern in primary care, particularly among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), heart failure, and those on renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors. Its management is critical due to the associated risks of severe complications, including cardiac arrhythmias and increased mortality (Kövesdy, 2016; Bianchi et al., 2019). In primary care settings, hyperkalemia prevalence has been reported at approximately 5% to 6.3%, underscoring the need for vigilant monitoring and proactive management strategies (Sevamontree et al., 2024; Nicola et al., 2023).

Challenges in the outpatient management of hyperkalemia include ensuring the accuracy of potassium level measurements, addressing the potential for factitious hyperkalemia due to hemolysis, and implementing timely interventions (Chiu et al., 2023). Clinicians must be skilled in distinguishing between true hyperkalemia and falsely elevated readings to avoid unnecessary emergency referrals (Chiu et al., 2023). Management strategies are multifaceted, incorporating dietary modifications, pharmacological interventions such as potassium binders, and regular monitoring of serum potassium levels to effectively mitigate risks (Sarnowski et al., 2022; Son, 2024; AlSahow et al., 2024).