Optimal potassium levels in patients with heart failure.

ABSTRACT

Heart failure therapy involves the use of a number drugs that significantly affect potassium levels. While diuretics decrease potassium levels, others (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, AT2 receptor blockers, sacubitril/valsartan, spironolactone) increase. Patients also have several comorbidities that can significantly reduce renal function and thus affect the resulting potassium level. Decreased or elevated potassium levels can be very dangerous for the patient and therefore need to be monitored. In recent years, the results of several studies have been published that have focused on potassium levels and mortality and have shown that the optimal potassium levels in patients with heart failure should be between 4-5 mmol/L.