Clinical analysis for hypokalemia in elderly patients during acute episode of bronchial asthma

[Objective] To investigate clinical features of hypokalemia in elderly patients with acute episode of bronchial asthma.[Methods] Clinical data of the elderly patients with acute episode of bronchial asthma were analyzed retrospectively.[Results] 20 elderly patients with the complication of hypokalemia were identified from 46 patients with acute episode of bronchial asthma,with the incidence of the complication of 43.5%.Among these patients,the incidence of the complication was higher in patients with moderate-severe asthma and long duration of asthma than those in mild asthma and short duration of asthma(P 0.01).Multiple factors were involved in the occurrence of hypokalemia during acute episode of bronchial asthma,due to unspecific clinical manifestation,hypokalemia was easy to escape detection.[Conclusions] Hypokalemia was highly likely in elderly patients with acute episode of bronchial asthma,which poses potential danger for the patient.Potassium supplement should be administered in time and effectively.