Epidemiology, prognosis and management of potassium disorders in Covid‐19

Noori, Maryam; Nejadghaderi, Seyed A.; Sullman, Mark J. M.; Carson‐Chahhoud, Kristin; Kolahi, Ali‐Asghar; Safiri, Saeid

Coronavirus disease (Covid‐19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), is currently the largest health crisis facing most countries. Several factors have been linked with a poor prognosis for this disease, including demographic factors, pre‐existing comorbidities and laboratory parameters such as white blood cell count, D‐dimer, C‐reactive protein, albumin, lactate dehydrogenase, creatinine and electrolytes. Electrolyte abnormalities particularly potassium disorders are common among Covid‐19 patients. Based on our pooled analysis, hypokalemia and hyperkalemia occur in 24.3% and 4.15% of Covid‐19 patients, respectively. Potassium level deviation from the normal range may increase the chances of unfavorable outcomes and even death. Therefore, this article reviewed the epidemiology of potassium disorders and explained how hypokalemia and hyperkalemia are capable of deteriorating cardiac outcomes and the prognosis of Covid‐19 for infected patients. The article finishes by highlighting some important considerations in the management of hypokalemia and hyperkalemia in these patients.