What describes the intensity of QRS complex during hyperkalemia?

In cases of hyperkalemia, one of the hallmark electrocardiographic changes is the widening of the QRS complex. This occurs due to the effect of elevated potassium levels on the cardiac myocytes. High potassium levels lead to a decrease in membrane excitability and conduction velocity, particularly affecting the His-Purkinje system and ventricular myocardium. As a result, depolarization takes longer, which manifests as a prolonged QRS complex on the ECG. This widening can be a critical sign of hyperkalemia and may progress if potassium levels continue to rise, potentially leading to more severe dysrhythmias.

Other configurations, such as a narrow QRS complex or a normal width, do not correspond to the changes seen in hyperkalemia, as they suggest normal conduction pathways and are typically indicative of lower potassium levels. An absent QRS complex usually points to severe arrhythmias or loss of ventricular depolarization, which is not specifically characteristic of hyperkalemia. Therefore, the widened QRS complex is a vital indicator of the electrical disturbances caused by elevated potassium levels in the body.