AstraZeneca Pharma India has launched K+ Connect, a nationwide multidisciplinary initiative aimed at improving the management of hyperkalaemia among patients suffering from Heart Failure (HF) and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

The initiative seeks to reposition hyperkalaemia — a condition characterised by elevated potassium levels in the blood — from being viewed as an episodic laboratory finding to a recurring clinical challenge requiring coordinated and long-term management across multiple medical specialties.

Hyperkalaemia remains a common complication in patients with CKD and heart failure and is associated with interruptions in Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy (GDMT), which can adversely affect long-term patient outcomes. While the condition affects nearly 2–3 percent of the general population globally, its prevalence rises significantly among CKD patients, reaching nearly 40–50 percent in advanced stages. In India, chronic hyperkalaemia prevalence is estimated at over 13 percent, highlighting the need for more proactive and standardised care pathways.

Through K+ Connect, AstraZeneca is collaborating with multidisciplinary experts from 33 leading healthcare institutions across India to promote evidence-based and coordinated approaches to hyperkalaemia management. The initiative aims to help eligible patients continue recommended therapies under appropriate clinical supervision and monitoring.

Dr. Sandeep Arora, Director – Medical Affairs, AstraZeneca Pharma India, said, “Hyperkalaemia continues to remain an under-recognised and dynamic clinical risk in heart failure and chronic kidney disease, often resulting in reactive rather than preventive treatment decisions. The initiative seeks to strengthen earlier risk identification, improve clinical alignment and support integration of evidence-based care into routine medical practice.”

The programme will be implemented in two phases. The first phase will focus on clinician alignment across specialties including cardiology, nephrology, internal medicine, emergency medicine, nursing and pharmacy to establish a common understanding of the risks, recurrence patterns and treatment implications associated with hyperkalaemia.

The second phase will involve case-based workshops aimed at developing consensus-driven institutional care pathways covering screening protocols, treatment thresholds, escalation criteria, monitoring standards and coordination between inpatient and outpatient care settings.

The initiative is supported by a national network of hospitals including Max Healthcare, Jaslok Hospital, Apollo Hospitals and Yashoda Hospital, along with 29 additional tertiary healthcare centres.

Following the publication of the consensus protocol, participating institutions adopting the care pathways and training frameworks will be recognised as Centres of Excellence (COEs), supporting broader implementation of best practices in hyperkalaemia management across India.

AstraZeneca stated that its role in K+ Connect will focus on facilitating scientific collaboration, stakeholder engagement and operational support, while clinical decisions and adoption of treatment pathways will remain under the governance of participating medical institutions.