Common causes of hyperkalaemia in DM and HIV include hyporeninaemic hypo-aldosteronism, acidosis, renal impairment and drugs such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, potassium-sparing diuretics and beta-blockers8,9 Hypokalaemia in DM is frequently caused by insulin administration, malabsorption, osmotic diuresis and hypomagnesaemia.9 In PLWH, hypokalaemia is commonly caused by vomiting, diarrhoea and proximal tubular dysfunction secondary to TDF.25,26,27 However, in our study, TDF was not significantly associated with hypokalaemia. This evidence concerns the gene INS and acidosis disorder.