EVALUATION OF SERUM MAGNESIUM AND THE EFFECT ON PROGNOSIS IN PATIENTS ADMITTED TO INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Various studies have tackled the correlation between serum magnesium and
prognosis in patients admitted to intensive care units. This study aimed to evaluate the probable
significance of hypomagnesemia in patients’ clinical outcome. If proved positive, preventive measures
could be taken to reduce hospital costs, improve patient recovery, and decrease hospital stay of the
patients.
Materials & Methods: We evaluated two hundred and sixteen patients admitted to intensive care units
of Imam Khomeini university hospital in urmia in the first five months of the year 1390 patients with
brain death, deep coma, advanced organ failure and critically ill cancer patients were excluded. A test
of serum magnesium was performed at time of admission to ICU and patients were followed during
their hospitalization both in ICU and hospital wards. Duration of hospital stay, need for mechanical
ventilation and its possible effect on morbidity and mortality were evaluated.
Results: Out of 216 patients, 79 patients (36.58%) had normal serum magnesium levels. 69 patients
(31.94%) and 68 patients (31.48%) had low and high levels of serum magnesium respectively. There
was no statistically significant relationship between magnesium serum level and length of hospital
stay, need for mechanical ventilation and mortality.
Conclusion: Findings of the recent study together with previous ones indicate that magnesium
deficiency could be documented in patients admitted to intensive care units but low level of blood
magnesium is not related to increased mortality and morbidity or poor clinical outcome. We should
remain vigilant against malnutrition and electrolyte abnormalities in critically ill patients