Serum potassium and risk of cardiovascular disease: The Framingham heart study

Craig R. Walsh, Martin G. Larson, Eric P. Leip, Ramachandran S. Vasan, Daniel Levy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Published studies of the association between serum potassium concentration and risk for cardiovascular disease in community-based populations have reported conflicting results. We sought to determine the association between serum potassium concentration and cardiovascular disease risk in the Framingham Heart Study. Methods: A total of 3151 participants (mean age, 43 years; 48% men) in the Framingham Heart Study who were free of cardiovascular disease and not taking medications affecting potassium homeostasis had serum potassium levels measured (1979-1983). Proportional hazards models were used to determine the association of serum potassium concentration at baseline with the incidence of cardiovascular disease at follow-up. Results: During mean follow-up of 16 years, 313 cardiovascular disease events occurred, including 46 cardiovascular disease-related deaths. After adjustment for age, serum potassium level was marginally associated with risk of cardiovascular disease (hazard ratio [HR] per 1 mg/dL increment, 1.03; 95% confidence interval [Cl], 1.00-1.05; P = .02). However, after further adjustment for multiple confounders, serum potassium level was not significantly associated with cardiovascular disease risk (HR, 1.00; 95% Cl, 0.98-1.03). There were no significant associations between serum potassium level and cardiovascular disease-related death in either age-and sex-adjusted models (HR, 1.06; 95% Cl, 0.99-1.12) or multivariable-adjusted models (HR, 1.04; 95% Cl, 0.97-1.11). Conclusion: In our community-based sample of individuals free of cardiovascular disease and not taking medications that affect potassium homeostasis, serum potassium level was not associated with risk of cardiovascular disease.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1007-1012
Number of pages6
JournalArchives of Internal Medicine
Volume162
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - May 13 2002
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Internal Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Serum potassium and risk of cardiovascular disease: The Framingham heart study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this