Increasing potassium levels can improve outcomes in patients at high risk of ventricular arrhythmia

Targeting high-normal potassium levels reduced the risk of arrhythmias, hospitalization for heart failure or arrhythmia and death compared with no intervention, according to late-breaking research. Doctor Christian Jons: "We conducted the POTCAST trial to assess the benefits and risks of targeting high-normal potassium levels in patients at high risk of ventricular arrhythmias with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)." Eligible participants had an ICD or cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator and had a baseline plasma potassium ≤4.3 mmol/L. Participants were randomized 1:1 to a treatment regimen aiming at increasing plasma potassium level to 4.5−5.0 mmol/L, using dietary guidance, potassium supplements and/or mineralocorticoid...