Biomarkers · Electrolytes & Minerals
Serum Potassium
U-shaped: both low and high values carry risk. In NHANES 1999–2018 with linked mortality to 2019, each standard deviation is associated with a hazard ratio of 1.11. U-shaped: slope not comparable
NHANES, our fit with 95% CIPublished curve
Hazard ratios relative to each curve's own reference value, so the two curves need not cross 1 at the same point. The dotted vertical line marks the NHANES median.
NHANES hazard per SD1.1195% CI 1.08–1.13 · 48,358 adults, 7,025 deaths
Published hazard ratio1.55top vs bottom quarter (95% CI 1.35–1.78) · Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis
Where people sit
Population percentiles (mmol/L) by sex and age band. Cycle or source as recorded in the catalogue.
| Sex | Age | 5th | 25th | Median | 75th | 95th | n | Cycle / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 20-39 | 3.60 | 3.80 | 4.10 | 4.30 | 4.60 | 2,700 | 2017-2018 |
| All | 40-59 | 3.60 | 3.90 | 4.10 | 4.30 | 4.70 | 2,650 | 2017-2018 |
| All | 60+ | 3.60 | 3.90 | 4.20 | 4.40 | 4.80 | 2,800 | 2017-2018 |
| All | all | 3.60 | 3.90 | 4.10 | 4.30 | 4.70 | 8,150 | 2017-2018 |
| Men | all | 3.60 | 3.90 | 4.10 | 4.40 | 4.80 | 3,950 | 2017-2018 |
| Women | all | 3.60 | 3.80 | 4.10 | 4.30 | 4.70 | 4,200 | 2017-2018 |
What studies found when this marker was changed
Effects on the biomarker reported in the cited studies. They describe what happened in those populations, not a recommendation for anyone. See all catalogued interventions.
| Type | Intervention | Reported effect | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| diet | Potassium-rich whole food diet (vegetables, fruits, legumes: 3500-4700 mg/day) | Maintains optimal serum potassium within narrow 4.0-4.8 mmol/L band | RCT | National Center for Health Statistics. National Health and Nutrition Examination… |
| diet | DASH diet rich in potassium from fruits and leafy vegetables (3.5-4.7 g/day) | +0.3 to +0.6 mEq/L optimization from hypokalemic baseline | rct | Appel LJ, et al. N Engl J Med. 1997;336:1117-1124. |
| pharmacologic | Novel non-absorbed potassium binders (Patiromer / Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate) | -0.7 to -1.2 mEq/L reduction in hyperkalemia | rct | Weir MR, et al. N Engl J Med. 2015;372:211-221. |
| pharmacologic | Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist titration (Spironolactone 25mg) | +0.3 to +0.5 mEq/L elevation preventing hypokalemia in heart failure | rct | Pitt B, et al. N Engl J Med. 1999;341:709-717. |
| pharmacologic | Combined RAAS inhibitors and potassium-sparing agents in advanced CKD | +1.0 to +2.5 mEq/L severe hyperkalemia (>5.5 mEq/L) | rct | Fried LF, et al. N Engl J Med. 2013;369:1892-1903. |
| pharmacologic | High-dose loop diuretics without potassium replacement | -0.8 to -1.5 mEq/L arrhythmogenic hypokalemia (<3.5 mEq/L) | systematic review | Gennari FJ. N Engl J Med. 1998;339:451-458. |
Sources
- Hazard curve: Recalculated from mortality_association (HR=1.55 quartile_extreme); per-SD log(HR)=0.342.
- Krogager C, et al. Potassium and mortality in general and clinical populations: a systematic review. Am J Cardiovasc Drugs. 2017;17(4):287-299.
- Empirical curve: our Cox model with age and sex, NHANES 1999–2018 with linked mortality to 2019.