E-ISSN 1858-8360 | ISSN 0256-4408
 

Original Article 


Insight into potassium’s role in childhood mortality due to severe acute malnutrition

Sumia Alasad, Omaima Nail, Mahmoud Hassan.

Abstract
Hypokalaemia is associated with an increase in mortality in children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and diarrhoea. This is a descriptive cross-sectional retrospective study conducted in the Nutritional Ward at Mohamed Alamin Hamid Pediatrics Hospital in Omdurman, Sudan. It aimed to assess the frequency of hypokalaemia among children with SAM to understand the influence of hypokalaemia and potassium supplementations contributed on the children survival rates (January–December 2015). It included 215 patients with SAM and acute diarrhoea. The potassium levels of all the patients were assessed upon hospital admission and this correlated with the mortality according to the degree of hypokalaemia and treatment initiated. Hypokalaemia was evident in 70.2% of the patients. Mortality was 3.1% in normokalaemic and 13.9% in hypokalaemic patients. The patients’ survival was significantly associated with their serum potassium levels and the treatment received.
The survival rates have been assessed via the Multinomial Logistic Model, which reveals that normokalaemic children had a chance of 157.349 (95% confidence interval 18.479–1,339.811) times higher than that compared to the baseline children with advanced hypokalaemia with serum levels <2 mEq/l (p-value < 0.001). Children with mild hypokalaemia within the serum levels of 3.0–3.4 mEq/ml showed an increased survival chance of 549.970 (95% CI 19.293–3,238.716) times compared to the baseline children (p-value = 0.000). In patients with SAM, who presented with acute diarrhoea, there was an increase in mortality in patients with hypokalaemia compared with patients who presented with normal potassium levels. Corresponding mortality rates increased significantly with the severity of hypokalaemia. In severe hypokalaemia, there is a significant difference in mortality between patients treated with oral rehydration solutions for malnutrition in relation to patients treated with oral potassium supplements or with intravenous potassium.

Key words: Hypokalaemia; I.V potassium; Mohamed Alamin Hamid Pediatric Hospital; Severe acute malnutrition; Omdurman; Rehydration solution; Sudan.


 
ARTICLE TOOLS
Abstract
PDF Fulltext
How to cite this articleHow to cite this article
Citation Tools
Related Records
 Articles by Sumia Alasad
Articles by Omaima Nail
Articles by Mahmoud Hassan
on Google
on Google Scholar


How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Alasad S, Nail O, Hassan M. Insight into potassium’s role in childhood mortality due to severe acute malnutrition. Sudan J Paed. 2019; 19(1): 44-51. doi:10.24911/SJP.106-1513711620


Web Style

Alasad S, Nail O, Hassan M. Insight into potassium’s role in childhood mortality due to severe acute malnutrition. https://sudanjp.com//?mno=286060 [Access: February 06, 2024]. doi:10.24911/SJP.106-1513711620


AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Alasad S, Nail O, Hassan M. Insight into potassium’s role in childhood mortality due to severe acute malnutrition. Sudan J Paed. 2019; 19(1): 44-51. doi:10.24911/SJP.106-1513711620



Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Alasad S, Nail O, Hassan M. Insight into potassium’s role in childhood mortality due to severe acute malnutrition. Sudan J Paed. (2019), [cited February 06, 2024]; 19(1): 44-51. doi:10.24911/SJP.106-1513711620



Harvard Style

Alasad, S., Nail, . O. & Hassan, . M. (2019) Insight into potassium’s role in childhood mortality due to severe acute malnutrition. Sudan J Paed, 19 (1), 44-51. doi:10.24911/SJP.106-1513711620



Turabian Style

Alasad, Sumia, Omaima Nail, and Mahmoud Hassan. 2019. Insight into potassium’s role in childhood mortality due to severe acute malnutrition. Sudanese Journal of Paediatrics, 19 (1), 44-51. doi:10.24911/SJP.106-1513711620



Chicago Style

Alasad, Sumia, Omaima Nail, and Mahmoud Hassan. "Insight into potassium’s role in childhood mortality due to severe acute malnutrition." Sudanese Journal of Paediatrics 19 (2019), 44-51. doi:10.24911/SJP.106-1513711620



MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Alasad, Sumia, Omaima Nail, and Mahmoud Hassan. "Insight into potassium’s role in childhood mortality due to severe acute malnutrition." Sudanese Journal of Paediatrics 19.1 (2019), 44-51. Print. doi:10.24911/SJP.106-1513711620



APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Alasad, S., Nail, . O. & Hassan, . M. (2019) Insight into potassium’s role in childhood mortality due to severe acute malnutrition. Sudanese Journal of Paediatrics, 19 (1), 44-51. doi:10.24911/SJP.106-1513711620





Most Viewed Articles
Most Accessed Articles

  • Rheumatic heart disease in North Darfur: an alarmingly high burden and control initiative
    Nagwa Salih, Ishag Eisa, Daresalam Ishag, Intisar Ibrahim, Sulafa Ali
    Sudan J Paed. 2018; 18(1): 24-27
    » Abstract » doi: 10.24911/SJP.2018.1.4

  • Feeding growth restricted premature neonates: a challenging perspective
    Siba Prosad Paul, Emily Natasha Kirkham, Katherine Amy Hawton, Paul Anthony Mannix
    Sudan J Paed. 2018; 18(2): 5-14
    » Abstract » doi: 10.24911/SJP.106-1519511375

  • Congenital brain malformations in Sudanese children: an outpatient-based study
    Inaam Noureldyme Mohammed, Soad Abdalaziz Suliman, Maha A Elseed, Ahlam Abdalrhman Hamed, Mohamed Osman Babiker, Shaimaa Osman Taha
    Sudan J Paed. 2018; 18(1): 48-56
    » Abstract » doi: 10.24911/SJP.2018.1.7

  • Evaluation of Science. [eng]
    Adnan Mahmmood Usmani; Sultan Ayoub Meo
    Sudan J Paed. 2011; 11(1): 6-7
    » Abstract

  • Medical education and services in an extreme environment
    Mustafa Abdalla M. Salih, Mohammed Osman Swar
    Sudan J Paed. 2018; 18(1): 2-5
    » Abstract » doi: 10.24911/SJP.2018.1.1

  • Most Downloaded
    Top Downloaded Articles

  • The role of micronutrients in thyroid dysfunction
    Amir Babiker, Afnan Alawi, Mohsen Al Atawi, Ibrahim Al Alwan
    Sudan J Paed. 2020; 20(1): 13-19
    » Abstract » doi: 10.24911/SJP.106-1587138942

  • Why mothers are not exclusively breast feeding their babies till 6 months of age? Knowledge and practices data from two large cities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
    Hafsa Raheel, Shabana Tharkar
    Sudan J Paed. 2018; 18(1): 28-38
    » Abstract » doi: 10.24911/SJP.2018.1.5

  • Relactation in lactation failure and low milk supply
    Anita Mehta, Arvind Kumar Rathi, Komal Prasad Kushwaha, Abhishek Singh
    Sudan J Paed. 2018; 18(1): 39-47
    » Abstract » doi: 10.24911/SJP.2018.1.6

  • Inborn errors of metabolism associated with hyperglycaemic ketoacidosis and diabetes mellitus: narrative review
    Majid Alfadhel, Amir Babiker
    Sudan J Paed. 2018; 18(1): 10-23
    » Abstract » doi: 10.24911/SJP.2018.1.3

  • Neonatal polycythaemia
    Bashir Abdrhman Bashir, Suhair Abdrahim Othman
    Sudan J Paed. 2019; 19(2): 81-83
    » Abstract » doi: 10.24911/SJP.106-1566075225

  • Most Cited Articles
    Most Cited Articles

  • Anti-diabetic medications: How to make a choice?
    Amir Babiker, Mohammed Al Dubayee
    Sudan J Paed. 2017; 17(2): 11-20
    » Abstract » doi: 10.24911/SJP.2017.2.12
    Cited : 8 times [Click to see citing articles]

  • Commitment to the wellbeing of children worldwide. [eng]
    Mustafa Abdalla M Salih; Satti Abdelrahim Satti
    Sudan J Paed. 2011; 11(2): 4-5
    » Abstract
    Cited : 4 times [Click to see citing articles]

  • Pattern of malaria in hospitalized children in Khartoum state
    Hasan Awadalla Hashim, Eltigani Mohamed Ahmed Ali
    Sudan J Paed. 2017; 17(2): 35-41
    » Abstract » doi: 10.24911/SJP.2017.2.4
    Cited : 4 times [Click to see citing articles]

  • The role of micronutrients in thyroid dysfunction
    Amir Babiker, Afnan Alawi, Mohsen Al Atawi, Ibrahim Al Alwan
    Sudan J Paed. 2020; 20(1): 13-19
    » Abstract » doi: 10.24911/SJP.106-1587138942
    Cited : 4 times [Click to see citing articles]

  • Broad beans ( Vicia faba ) and the potential to protect from COVID-19 coronavirus infection
    Mutasim I. Khalil, Mustafa A. Salih, Ali A. Mustafa
    Sudan J Paed. 2020; 20(1): 10-12
    » Abstract » doi: 10.24911/SJP.1061585398078
    Cited : 4 times [Click to see citing articles]