OBJECTIVES: Hypokalemia is a frequent adverse reaction to thiazide diuretics, but is often asymptomatic. However, even asymptomatic hypokalemia may contribute to chronic disabilities and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of thiazide-induced hypokalemia in men and women in the general population. METHODS: Within the Rotterdam study, which is a population-based cohort study, the association between thiazide exposure and hypokalemia (serum potassium level <3.5 mmol/l; moderate to severe ≤3.0 mmol/l) was studied using Cox proportional-hazard regression analysis over a 10-year period, with thiazide use as a time-varying exposure. RESULTS: During follow-up, 507 cases of hypokalemia occurred in 13, 328 patients. Thiazide use was associated with an 11 times higher risk of hypokalemia than no use [relative risk (RR) 11.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 8.95, 13.96] after adjustment for sex, age, and use of a renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitor or separate potassium-sparing diuretic. In users of a thiazide in combination with triamterene, the risk was still six times higher (RR 5.93, 95% CI 4.65, 7.55) than in nonusers. The risk of thiazide-induced hypokalemia was significantly higher in men than in women and changed significantly with age and dosage. The risk of moderate to severe hypokalemia was almost five times higher in thiazide users (RR 4.80, 95% CI 2.61, 8.84) than in nonusers. CONCLUSION: The risk of thiazide-induced hypokalemia is high, and more than twice as high in men as in women. Hypokalemia risk is influenced by age and dosage, and is still increased if used in combination with triamterene.
OBJECTIVES:Hypokalemia is a frequent adverse reaction to thiazide diuretics, but is often asymptomatic. However, even asymptomatic hypokalemia may contribute to chronic disabilities and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of thiazide-induced hypokalemia in men and women in the general population. METHODS: Within the Rotterdam study, which is a population-based cohort study, the association between thiazide exposure and hypokalemia (serum potassium level <3.5 mmol/l; moderate to severe ≤3.0 mmol/l) was studied using Cox proportional-hazard regression analysis over a 10-year period, with thiazide use as a time-varying exposure. RESULTS: During follow-up, 507 cases of hypokalemia occurred in 13, 328 patients. Thiazide use was associated with an 11 times higher risk of hypokalemia than no use [relative risk (RR) 11.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 8.95, 13.96] after adjustment for sex, age, and use of a renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitor or separate potassium-sparing diuretic. In users of a thiazide in combination with triamterene, the risk was still six times higher (RR 5.93, 95% CI 4.65, 7.55) than in nonusers. The risk of thiazide-induced hypokalemia was significantly higher in men than in women and changed significantly with age and dosage. The risk of moderate to severe hypokalemia was almost five times higher in thiazide users (RR 4.80, 95% CI 2.61, 8.84) than in nonusers. CONCLUSION: The risk of thiazide-induced hypokalemia is high, and more than twice as high in men as in women. Hypokalemia risk is influenced by age and dosage, and is still increased if used in combination with triamterene.
Authors: Albert Hofman; Guy G O Brusselle; Sarwa Darwish Murad; Cornelia M van Duijn; Oscar H Franco; André Goedegebure; M Arfan Ikram; Caroline C W Klaver; Tamar E C Nijsten; Robin P Peeters; Bruno H Ch Stricker; Henning W Tiemeier; André G Uitterlinden; Meike W Vernooij Journal: Eur J Epidemiol Date: 2015-09-19 Impact factor: 8.082
Authors: Emily B Schroeder; John L Adams; Michel Chonchol; Gregory A Nichols; Patrick J O'Connor; J David Powers; Julie A Schmittdiel; Susan M Shetterly; John F Steiner Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2020-04-16 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: S Bardak; K Turgutalp; M B Koyuncu; H Harı; I Helvacı; D Ovla; M Horoz; S Demir; A Kıykım Journal: Int Urol Nephrol Date: 2016-12-29 Impact factor: 2.370
Authors: Mihály Tapolyai; Mária Faludi; Neville R Dossabhoy; István Barna; Zsolt Lengvárszky; Tibor Szarvas; Klára Berta; Tibor Fülöp Journal: J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) Date: 2014-10-20 Impact factor: 3.738
Authors: Maria Lukács Krogager; Peter Søgaard; Christian Torp-Pedersen; Henrik Bøggild; Christina Ji-Young Lee; Anders Bonde; Jesper Q Thomassen; Gunnar Gislason; Manan Pareek; Kristian Kragholm Journal: BMC Cardiovasc Disord Date: 2020-08-24 Impact factor: 2.298