HYPOKALEMIA IN CIRRHOTIC PATIENTS

Introduction: Hypokalemia is a commonly founded electrolyte derangement, associated with hepatic encephalopathy, increased morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospital stay, high economical burden, and major cause of hospitalization in cirrhotic patients. Objectives: To determine the association of hypokalemia with hepatic encephalopathy in patients of liver cirrhosis. Material and Methods: This was a cross sectional research conducted at Department of Medicine Peoples Medical College Hospital Nawabshsah from 1st September 2016 to 31 st August 2017 for duration of 01 year. Sample size was 300 subjects. Non-probability convenience sampling technique was applied. Liver Cirrhosis was diagnosed on history, clinical examination and confirmed with ultrasound or liver biopsy. Severity of hepatic encephalopathy was assessed with help of its grades on the day of admission and blood samples were sent on the same day to determine the serum potassium levels. Ethical review committee of Peoples Medical College Hospital Nawabshsah approved the current study. Data was entered and analyzed on SPSS 20 version. Results: Hypokalemia was observed in 72% of cirrhotic patients admitted with or without hepatic encephalopathy. Association of hypokalemia with hepatic encephalopathy was significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Hypokalemia is common and is associated with high rates of hepatic encephalopathy, morbidity and mortality in the cirrhotic patients. Key words: Hypokalemia, Cirrhosis of liver, hepatic encephalopathy