Improving the Safety of Insulin Treatment for Hyperkalemia

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

10-2019

Publication Title

Ann Emerg Med

Abstract

Study Objectives: This study’s objective was to determine key clinical predictors of hypoglycemia following insulin therapy for the emergent management of hyperkalemia and derive a safe insulin treatment strategy. Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study across 4 hospitals that was inclusive of consecutive ED and hospitalized adults that received insulin for the management of hyperkalemia over a 12-month period. We excluded patients treated in the setting of cardiac arrest. The primary outcome was hypoglycemia (glucose < 70 mg/dL) following treatment. We performed multivariate logistic regression to determine clinical predictors of hypoglycemia. We then tested the pre-treatment glucose-insulin ratio (glucose divided by planned weight-based insulin dose) and tested its ability to alert clinicians to the risk of treatment related hypoglycemia. Results: The study included 1,307 patients, of whom 507 were in the ED and 800 were inpatient. The mean pre-treatment K was 6.1 (SD 0.76). Hypoglycemic events occurred 238 times (18.4%). Patients in the ED had the highest rate of hypoglycemic events (23.3%) compared to hospitalized patients (15.3%, p<0.001). Patient’s with a pre-treatment glucose < 100 mg/dl had 31.0% the rate of hypoglycemia compared to those with higher glucose levels (13.7%, p<0.001). Adjusting for multiple clinical covariates, male sex (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1 - 2.0), insulin dosing > 0.1 units/kg (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1 - 2.1), and pre-treatment glucose < 100 mg/dl (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.8 - 3.2) were significant predictors of hypoglycemia. The median glucose-insulin ratio was 1310 [IQR 915, 2025]. A ratio < 1310 identified 71.9% of hypoglycemic events (OR 3.0, 95% CI 2.2 - 4.1). Conclusion: Male sex, insulin dose, and pre-treatment glucose are predictors of hypoglycemia in the treatment of hyperkalemia. Attention to the simple ratio of the pre-treatment glucose to weight-based insulin dose identifies most patients at risk of hypoglycemia and can alert clinicians to adjust glucose and insulin administration proactively.

Volume

74

Issue

4

First Page

S8

Last Page

S9

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