Effects of different potassium-lowering regimens on acute hyperkalemia in hemodialysis patients: a real-world, retrospective study

BACKGROUND: Hyperkalemia is a common and potentially life-threatening electrolyte disorder in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of potassium-lowering regimens during treatment of acute hyperkalemia in MHD patients. METHODS: This retrospective real-world study (RWS) was conducted among 139 MHD patients. They were given different potassium-lowering regimens, viz. the insulin and glucose (IG) intravenous administration group (IG, 46 patients), the sodium polystyrene sulfonate group (SPS, 33 patients), the sodium zirconium cyclosilicate group (SZC, 38 patients), the IG + SZC group (22 patients). The primary efficacy end point was the rate of serum potassium decline at 2 h. The rates of adverse events were also compared. RESULTS: At 2 h, the mean ± SE change of serum potassium level was − 0.71 ± 0.32 mmol per liter (mmol/L) in IG group, − 0.43 ± 0.38 mmol/L in SPS group, − 0.64 ± 0.36 mmol/L in SZC group, − 1.43 ± 0.38 mmol/L in IG + SZC group (P < 0.01). The serum potassium level in IG + SZC group decreased more than that in the other three groups (P < 0.01), while the serum potassium level in SPS group decreased less than that in the other three groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference on the decrease of the serum potassium level between IG group and the SZC group (P = 0.374). The IG group and the IG + SZC group had higher rates of symptomatic hypoglycemia. The SPS group had significant decreases of serum calcium and serum magnesium after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Among MHD patients with acute hyperkalemia, SZC had similar potassium-lowering efficacy with IG intravenous administration at 2 h and superior on convenience and side-effects. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-022-03530-4.