OBJECTIVES: The presence of potassium disorders in the prehospital care is remarkable and can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to describe the occurrence, treatment, the outcome and the influencing factors of hyperkalaemia and hypokalaemia. A cross-sectional retrospective study was performed anonymously.

METHODS: The sample consisted of patients diagnosed with hypo- (n₁=131) or hyperkalemia (n₂=110) at the Emergency Department of the Markusovszky Egyetemi Oktatókórház between March 2021 and March 2024 following a non-random sampling technique, whose data we supplemented with the case files of the National Ambulance Service (n=185). The obtained data was evaluated by descriptive and mathematical statistical calculations (chi² test, correlation analysis) using SPSS 26.0 software (p<0.05).

RESULTS: Predisposing factors for hypokalaemia included hypertension (p=0.04). Higher blood glucose values (p<0.001), diabetes mellitus (p<0.001) and chronic kidney disease (p<0.001) were associated with hyperkalaemic conditions. Regarding presenting complaints, the most common symptom in the group of hyperkalemic patients was a feeling of weakness, while in the hypokalemic group, vomiting and diarrhea were the leading complaints (p=0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The development of unified prehospital guidelines for the treatment of dyskalemic conditions would certainly be helpful, which could greatly increase patient safety and facilitate the decision-making process of paramedics in critical situations.