Abstract: 【Abstract】Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the proportion of hyperkalemia, rates of the diagnosis and treatment, and rate of retesting for hyperkalemia among outpatients in China. Methods Data were derived from Beijing Data Center for Rational Use of Drugs. Patients who accessed outpatient services (aged ≥18 years old) with record(s) of serum potassium (S-K) between Jan. 1st, 2015 and Dec. 31st, 2017 were included. The data about laboratory test, diagnosis and treatment were analyzed. The main outcomes including proportion of hyperkalemia patients, diagnosis rate, treatment rate and S-K retesting rate were analyzed. The geographic and seasonal distributions of the outcomes were examined. Results A total of 2,997,634 patients with at least one S-K record were analyzed. Among these patients, 115,826 (3.86%) experienced hyperkalemia (S-K＞5.0mmol/L). In patients with chronic kidney disease, heart failure, diabetes mellitus and hypertension, the rates of patients who experienced hyperkalemia were 22.89%, 12.54%, 7.11% and 6.51%, respectively. In outpatients, the overall rate of hyperkalemia was 2.53%. In patients with hyperkalemia, the overall hyperkalemia treatment rate was 8.69%, and the overall retesting rate within 7 days was 11.41%. Conclusions Hyperkalemia is an abnormality not rare in adult outpatients in China. The rate and severity of hyperkalemia were higher in patients with chronic kidney disease, heart failure, hypertension and diabetes
compared to those in the overall outpatients. However, the rates of diagnosis, treatment and retesting for hyperkalemia in outpatients were insufficient, suggesting that the recognition and management of hyperkalemia in outpatients should be emphasized.

Key words: Hyperkalemia, Disease distribution, Epidemiology, Outpatient