Hypokalemia, Arrhythmias and Early Prognosis in Acute Myocardial Infarction

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Abstract
Serum K concentration was estimated on admission to hospital in 289 women and 785 men with acute myocardial infarction. The proportion of women in K subgroups was inversely related to serum K concentration, increasing from 8% at serum K .gtoreq. 5.2 mmol/l to 58% at .ltoreq. 3 mmol/l. The frequency of diuretic therapy was also higher in women (35%) than in men (23%). The mortality rate was high at 3 mo. in patients with 1 or more arrhythmias (atrioventricular block grade 2, complete heart block, bundle branch block, atrial fibrillation, premature ventricular contractions, ventricular tachycardia) detected by conventional methods during the first 48 h after admission. Hypokalemia (serum K .ltoreq. 3.5 mmol/l) did not significantly predict increased occurrence of any of these arrhythmias. Small inhomogeneities of arrhythmias between the K groups may have been caused by digitalis therapy prior to admission. Hypokalemia on admission did not predict altered prognosis during the first 3 mo.