Post-discharge outcomes among hyperkalemic patients treated with and without sodium polystyrene sulfonate in the inpatient setting

Analysis Group researchers were part of a team studying post-discharge outcomes among hyperkalemia (HK) patients who had received sodium polystyrene sulfonate (SPS) while in the hospital. The results of this study were presented at the Kidney Week 2020 Reimagined virtual conference in October 2020.

The Analysis Group team, which included Managing Principals Eric Wu and Keith Betts, Vice President Fan Mu, Associate Erin Cook, Senior Analysts Emma Billmyer and Lei Yin, and Analyst Esteban Lemus Wirtz, studied post-discharge outcomes among patients who had received SPS, a common treatment option for HK (defined as a higher-than-normal level of blood potassium) in inpatient (IP) settings. Previous to this study, the post-discharge outcomes of patients with HK treated with and without SPS in the IP setting had not been well characterized. The study determined that, despite treatment with SPS in the IP setting, patients with HK had a high burden of readmission and HK recurrence.

Adult patients with hyperkalemia were identified using 2012–2018 electronic medical record data from the Research Action for Health Network (REACHnet), part of the PCORI network.

View the Kidney Week 2020 Reimagined poster presentation of the study

Read an abstract of the study on the American Society of Nephrology’s website

Read an article about the study in Renal and Nephrology News