Recognition and Treatment of Hyperkalemia in Cardiometabolic Disease: Improving Care and Overcoming Challenges in Rural and Underserved Communities

TARGET AUDIENCE
This activity is designed specifically for primary care clinicians, registered nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses who care for patients from rural and underserved areas.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Hyperkalemia is a common electrolyte disorder associated with life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death. In patients who have heart failure, chronic kidney disease, or diabetes mellitus or who use renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi), there is a particularly increased risk of chronic or recurrent hyperkalemia. Hyperkalemia is often a reason for the suboptimal dosing or complete discontinuation of RAASi. Despite recent treatment advances, hyperkalemia remains a challenge for primary care clinicians, especially in rural and underserved communities where access to care is limited. In this CME/CE activity, expert faculty will review key predictors for hyperkalemia, clinical evidence for new potassium-binding agents, and individualized approaches to management. Strategies to improve team-based care in rural and underserved settings will also be discussed.
This enduring activity is a recorded session from the 3rd Annual Rural Health Clinical Congress that took place on November 20, 2021.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:
• Identify patients with or at risk for hyperkalemia based on the presence of risk factors
• Evaluate the efficacy and safety of new treatments for hyperkalemia
• Develop a treatment plan for patients with hyperkalemia based on the latest guideline recommendations, clinical evidence, and patient characteristics
• Employ a multidisciplinary team-based approach to improve the management of hyperkalemia in rural and underserved areas