A study of serum magnesium level in critically ill patients

Abstract

Background: It is considered that Hypomagnesemia is one of the underdiagnosed electrolyte abnormalities in patients who are critically ill. Many studies have been done to find the hypomagnesemia prevalence and its effects on patients regarding mortality and morbidity. So we have undertaken this study to know the effects of Hypomagnesemia in critically ill patients admitted in medical critical ward. And it is an observational study. Aims and Objectives: To study the level of serum magnesium in critically ill patients and to correlate its effects with patient outcome in terms of length of stay in ICU, need for ventilator support, duration of ventilator support, APACHE II score. To detect any electrolyte abnormalities associated with hypomagnesemia. Results: In our study, on admission in ICU, 55.3% patients had hypomagnesemia, and patients with hypomagnesemia have mean duration of stay in ICU was 8.2 days, longer duration on mechanical ventilator i.e. 6.3 day and APACHE II Score of 15.7 and more frequently patients were in sepsis (25.9%), 15.3 % had cardiovascular abnormality. Patients with hypomagnesemia were more frequently associated with Diabetes Mellitus (34%) and they were having higher mortality rate (48.9%). Conclusion: In the critically ill patients Hypomagnesemia was prevalent in higher rate. And it was associated with a higher mortality rate in them. And the requirement of ventilator support and duration on ventilator was significantly higher in hypomagnesemic patients. Hypomagnesemia was more commonly associated with sepsis, diabetes mellitus. And also it was associated with higher mortality rates and APACHE II Score.