Early caffeine therapy on the prevention of severe hyperkalemia in preterm infants

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of caffeine therapy in preventing severe hyperkalemia in preterm infants. Methods: We performed a single-center, retrospective study of preterm infants of 25–29 weeks’ gestation admitted in our neonatal intensive care unit from January 2019–August 2020. We divided the infants into two groups: the control group (January 2019–November 2019) and the early caffeine group (December 2019–August 2020). Results: We identified 33 infants (early caffeine, 15; control, 18). Baseline potassium levels were 5.3 and 4.8 mEq/L, respectively (p = 0.274). Severe hyperkalemia (K > 6.5 mEq/L) was observed in 0 (0%) and 7 (39%) (p = 0.009), in the early caffeine group and control group. The linear mixed-effect model confirmed the correlation between caffeine therapy and time from birth for the prediction of potassium levels (p < 0.001). While the potassium levels increased from baseline potassium levels at birth by 0.869 mEq/L at 12 h of birth, 0.884 mEq/L at 18 h of birth, and 0.641 mEq/L at 24 h of birth in the control group, the potassium levels were similar to the baseline levels at 12, 18, and 24 h of life in the early caffeine group. Among the clinical features, only early caffeine therapy was negatively associated with the incidence of hyperkalemia within 72 h of life. Conclusion: Early caffeine therapy within a few hours of life effectively prevents the incidence of severe hyperkalemia within the first 72 h of life in preterm infants of 25–29 weeks’ gestation. Prophylactic early caffeine therapy can, therefore, be considered in high-risk, preterm infants.