Frequency of Ventricular Tachycardia in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department with Hypokalemia

Abstract

Background: Hypokalemia is a common electrolyte abnormality in acute care settings and is a recognized precipitating factor for potentially life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Altered myocardial repolarization and increased electrical instability in potassium depletion may predispose affected patients to ventricular tachycardia. Objective: To determine the frequency of ventricular tachycardia in patients presenting with hypokalemia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Cardiology, Bolan Medical College Hospital, Quetta, from 20 January 2025 to 21 July 2025. A total of 218 male and female patients aged 20 to 90 years with hypokalemia were enrolled. Blood investigations, including serum electrolytes, were performed at admission, and ventricular tachycardia was assessed by electrocardiography. Data were analyzed in SPSS using descriptive statistics and post-stratification chi-square testing. Results: The mean age of the participants was 52.80 ± 5.245 years, and 65.1% were male. Ventricular tachycardia was observed in 34 patients, corresponding to a frequency of 15.6%. On stratified analysis, ventricular tachycardia occurred in 15.5% of males and 15.8% of females, in 16.7% of patients aged 45 years or below and 14.9% of those older than 45 years, in 20.0% of stimulant users and 14.6% of non-users, and in 15.5% of patients with heart failure versus 15.7% without heart failure; none of these differences were statistically significant. Conclusion: Ventricular tachycardia was present in a clinically important proportion of hypokalemic patients. These findings support early rhythm assessment, prompt potassium correction, and careful cardiac monitoring in hypokalemic patients presenting to acute care settings.