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AstraZeneca Pharma India Ltd., has launched K+ Connect, a pan-India multidisciplinary initiative focused on advancing the management of hyperkalaemia in patients with heart failure (HF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). The initiative aims to shift the understanding of hyperkalaemia from an episodic laboratory abnormality to a recurrent clinical challenge requiring coordinated, long-term management across specialties.
Hyperkalaemia, or elevated potassium levels in the blood, is a common and often recurring complication in patients with HF and CKD. Chronic kidney disease affects approximately 850 million people globally and hyperkalaemia represents a significant burden in this population. While hyperkalaemia affects only 2–3% of the general population, its prevalence rises to 40–50% among patients with CKD, particularly in advanced stages. In India, the prevalence of chronic hyperkalaemia is estimated at 13.24%, underlining the need for more proactive and consistent management.
Through K+ Connect, AstraZeneca is bringing together multidisciplinary experts from 33 leading centres across India to support a more standardized approach to hyperkalaemia management, helping eligible patients remain on guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) with appropriate monitoring and clinical oversight. The initiative reflects AstraZeneca’s broader commitment to keeping healthcare systems and clinicians united against hyperkalaemia through practical, evidence-based action.
“Hyperkalaemia remains an under-recognized and dynamic risk in heart failure and chronic kidney disease, often leading to reactive rather than proactive treatment decisions. At AstraZeneca, we see a clear opportunity to help shift this approach by supporting earlier risk recognition, stronger clinical alignment, and more practical integration of evidence into routine care. Through K+ Connect, we aim to enable a more structured approach that supports treatment continuity and strengthens long-term patient care,” said Dr Sandeep Arora, director, medical affairs, AstraZeneca Pharma India Ltd.
The initiative will be delivered in two phases. The first will focus on clinician alignment across cardiology, nephrology, internal medicine, emergency medicine, pharmacy, and nursing, to build a shared understanding of hyperkalaemia’s recurrence, risk, and impact on treatment continuity. The second will use case-based workshops to develop consensus-driven institutional pathways covering screening, treatment thresholds, monitoring, escalation criteria, and care coordination across inpatient and outpatient settings.
Anchored by a national network that includes Max Healthcare, Delhi; Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai; Apollo Hospitals, Bengaluru; and Yashoda Hospital, Hyderabad, along with 29 additional tertiary care centres, K+ Connect aims to strengthen multidisciplinary coordination and promote more consistent care practices across settings.
Following publication of the consensus protocol, participating institutions will be designated as Centres of Excellence (COEs) based on pathway adoption, staff training, and continuous improvement, supporting wider uptake of best practices in hyperkalaemia management.
AstraZeneca’s role in K+ Connect is to convene stakeholders, support scientific exchange, and provide evidence-based and operational support. Clinical decisions and protocol adoption will remain under the governance of the participating institutions.
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