Serum potassium level used as trigger doubled the detection of adverse drug events when compared with calcium polystyrene sulfonate trigger: a cross-sectional study

Background: Prescription of calcium polystyrene sulfonate (CPS) has been considered a trigger with good performance to detect hyperkalemia related adverse drug events (ADE). However, CPS prescription may underestimate the rate ADE. Objective: To compare serum potassium level (SPL) >5.0mEq/L and triggers in detecting Design setting: A six-month cross-sectional study was conducted Brazilian medium-complexity public hospital. Methods: SPL Tests results prescriptions all patients hospitalized internal medicine infectious diseases wards were used as tools potential Primary outcome: Secondary outcomes: effectiveness treatments Variables analyzed tests, prescriptions, comorbidities. Positive predictive values (PPV) calculated compared. Results: In total 2,466 tests assessed, which 513 triggered (>5.0mEq/L). The 198 hyperkalemia, whom 121 had ADE (PPV=0.61). total, 101 35 among 21 cases (PPV=0.60). detected 204 (PPV=0.40), while 22 (PPV=0.21). Seven pharmacological four non-pharmacological identified. showed lowest (PPV=0.71). Conclusion: SPL>5.0mEq/L increased detection by 9.3-fold, number tracked 5.8-fold, doubled comparison trigger.