Hyperkalaemia causes a rapid reduction in resting membrane potential leading to increased cardiac depolarization, and muscle excitability which in turn causes ECG changes (1).
ECG changes are usually progressive and may include:
- tall, peaked (tented) T waves [T wave larger than R wave in more than 1 lead]
- first degree heart block (prolonged PR interval) [>0.2 s];
- flattened or absent P waves
- ST-segment depression
- S and T wave merging (sine wave pattern)
- widened QRS [>0.12 s]
- arrhythmias including bradycardia, ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation
- cardiac arrest (pulseless electrical activity [PEA], ventricular fibrillation/pulseless ventricular tachycardia [VF/VT], asystole) (2)
ECG changes with hyperkalaemia do not consistently follow a stepwise, dose-dependent pattern.
- risk of arrhythmias increase with potassium values > 6.5 mmol/L and even small elevations in potassium above this concentration can lead to rapid progression from peaked T waves to ventricular fibrillation or asystole
- the longer a patient has high potassium concentrations, the greater the risk of sudden deterioration (1)
Click here for an example ECG and further information
Note:
- ECG finding are neither specific nor sensitive for detecting hyperkalaemia (3)
Reference:
(1) UK Kidney Association. Clinical Practice Guidelines - Management of Hyperkalaemia in Adults. October 2023.
(2) Lott C et. al. European Resuscitation Council Guidelines 2021: Cardiac arrest in special circumstances. Resuscitation. 2021 Apr;161:152-219. doi: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2021.02.011.
(3) Nyirenda MJ et al. Hyperkalaemia. BMJ. 2009;339:b4114.