Association of Intravenous Potassium and Magnesium Administration With Spontaneous Conversion of Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter in the Emergency Department

  • Filippo Cacioppo
  • , Denise Reisenbauer
  • , Harald Herkner
  • , Julia Oppenauer
  • , Nikola Schuetz
  • , Jan Niederdoeckl
  • , Sebastian Schnaubelt
  • , Sophie Gupta
  • , Martin Lutnik
  • , Alexander Simon
  • , Alexander O Spiel
  • , Nina Buchtele
  • , Hans Domanovits
  • , Anton N Laggner
  • , Michael Schwameis

Research output: Journal article (peer-reviewed)Journal article

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

IMPORTANCE: Whether the simultaneous intravenous administration of potassium and magnesium is associated with the probability of spontaneous conversion to sinus rhythm (SCV) in the acute treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) is unknown.

OBJECTIVE: To assess potassium and magnesium administration and SCV probability in AF and AFL in the emergency department.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A registry-based cohort study was conducted in the Department of Emergency Medicine of the Medical University of Vienna, Austria. All consecutive patients with AF or AFL were screened between February 6, 2009, and February 16, 2020.

INTERVENTIONS: Intravenous administration of potassium, 24 mEq, and magnesium, 145.8 mg.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was the probability of SCV during the patient's stay in the emergency department. Multivariable cluster-adjusted logistic regression was used to estimate the association between potassium and magnesium administration and the probability of SCV.

RESULTS: A total of 2546 episodes of nonpermanent AF (median patient age, 68 [IQR, 58-75] years, 1411 [55.4%] men) and 573 episodes of nonpermanent AFL (median patient age, 68 [IQR, 58-75] years; 332 [57.9%] men) were observed. In AF episodes, intravenous potassium and magnesium administration vs no administration was associated with increased odds of SCV (19.2% vs 10.4%; odds ratio [OR], 1.98; 95% CI, 1.53-2.57). In AFL episodes, in contrast, no association was noted for the probability of SCV with potassium and magnesium vs no administration (13.0% vs 12.5%; OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.65-1.69).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The findings of this registry-based cohort study on intravenous administration of potassium and magnesium suggest an increased probability of SCV in nonpermanent AF, but not AFL, during a patients' stay in the emergency department.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)e2237234
JournalJAMA network open
Volume5
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 19 Oct 2022
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Male
  • Humans
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Atrial Flutter/drug therapy
  • Atrial Fibrillation/drug therapy
  • Magnesium
  • Cohort Studies
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Potassium

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