Comprehensive Clinical Review of Hypokalemia: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management, and Evidence-Based Considerations for Clinicians
Prepared for practicing physicians—updated per 2023–2024 guidelines from KDIGO, Endocrine Society, ACC/AHA, and UpToDate 1. Definition & Epidemiology Hypokalemia is defined as a serum potassium (K⁺) concentration <3.5 mmol/L. Potassium is the principal intracellular cation; >98% of total body K⁺ resides intracellularly (≈3500 mmol in a 70-kg adult), with only ~2% (≈140 mmol) extracellular—yet this…
