A Real-World Experience of Hyperkalemia Management Using Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate in Chronic Hemodialysis: A Multicenter Clinical Audit

Introduction: Hyperkalemia, a common condition among hemodialysis (HD) patients, is associated with adverse health outcomes. Evidence of the safety and efficacy of a potassium-binder, sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC), has been limited among Asian (HD) patients beyond phase 3 trials. This article demonstrates real-world evidence of SZC usage in an Asian cohort of HD patients.Methods: A retrospective clinical audit was conducted among 293 patients who received maintenance HD at community-based dialysis centers in Singapore. Patients received SZC for either management of hyperkalemia or hyperkalemia prevention during anticipated disruption to dialysis, such as during traveling. Among patients treated for hyperkalemia (N = 147), serum potassium (K+) prior to SZC initiation and at the endpoint was compared using a paired Student’s t-test. Changes in K+ from baseline to endpoint were compared across various categories within each demographic and health-related variables using either Student’s t-test or one-way ANOVA. Patients who experienced adverse events after SZC initiation or were deceased during the audit were reviewed to provide a descriptive account.Results: Among patients who received SZC for hyperkalemia treatment, SZC use was associated with a significant reduction of 0.812 mmol/L in serum potassium. Patients with ethnicities other than Chinese, Malay, or Indian had a nominal reduction in K+ of 0.7 mmol/L and this can be accounted for the small sample size of this sub-group. The three main ethnicities which represented more than 95% of the sample showed a significant reduction in K+ levels (all three p