Pneumonia and Hypokalemia Outcomes Investigated in a Rural, Midwestern Population

Background Pneumonia is a broad term encompassing lung infections with varying causes, presentations, and prognoses. The objective of this study was to determine if the presence of hypokalemia in subjects admitted to the hospital for pneumonia was associated with an increased mortality rate compared to subjects admitted with pneumonia without hypokalemia. Finding comorbidities associated with worse outcomes in subjects with pneumonia could improve treatment and subsequently improve morbidity and mortality rates. Methods This retrospective study used data from the Freeman Health System (FHS) electronic medical record in Joplin and Neosho, MO, from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2021. Hospital admissions of subjects ≥18 years old with pneumonia, hypokalemia, or both were identified through the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes related to pneumonia and hypokalemia. Of the 4,414 subjects with pneumonia, 1,045 concurrently had hypokalemia, and 3,369 did not. Additionally, 3,594 subjects had hypokalemia without pneumonia. Mortality rates of sample groups were assessed and compared. Results Of the sample groups identified, the mortality rate for subjects with pneumonia and hypokalemia was the highest at 218 (20.86%), followed by pneumonia without hypokalemia at 567 (16.83%), and hypokalemia but no pneumonia at 195 (5.43%). The two-sample comparison tests showed the differences in mortality rates in the three sample groups, which were all statistically significant. Conclusions The group with pneumonia and hypokalemia had a higher mortality rate than the group with pneumonia without hypokalemia or hypokalemia without pneumonia. This data suggests that hypokalemia was associated with increased mortality in subjects with pneumonia. This finding opens up discussion for identifying other comorbidities that may be present in subjects with pneumonia and could help decision-making in the care of subjects with pneumonia prior to hospitalization, upon admission, or during hospitalization.