Annals of clinical biochemistry
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Ann. Clin. Biochem. · Jan 1992
Hypophosphataemia in a hospital population and the incidence of concomitant hypokalaemia.
There have been few recent studies describing the incidence and causes of hypophosphataemia in a hospital population and the frequency of concomitant hypokalaemia. In this study a majority (53%) of patients with hypophosphataemia had been on a glucose infusion at the time of their low plasma phosphate. ⋯ Approximately, 11% of patients with hypophosphataemia (less than 0.8 mmol/L) had a plasma potassium equal to or less than 3.5 mmol/L, compared with 5.7% of hospital patients without hypophosphataemia. Furthermore, 20% of patients with severe hypophosphataemia (less than 0.3 mmol/L) had hypokalaemia as similarly defined.