Magnesium Level Changes and its Possible Effects on the Outcome of Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Unit

Hypomagnesemia is a usual finding in patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) that is usually the result of magnesium (Mg) loss from renal or gastrointestinal (GI) tracts.
The current study aimed at evaluating the relationship between the level of Mg in serum and outcome of patients admitted to ICU.
The current cross sectional, descriptive study was performed on patients admitted to ICU for 1 year. All of the patients stayed at least 2 days in ICU. Data on the underlying disease were collected based on a check list. All patients were followed-up until the discharge time. Parametric and non-parametric tests were used for the statistical analyses using SPSS software ver. 18.0.
One hundred one patients (52 males and 49 females) were enrolled in the current study. Most of the underlying diseases in patients were pulmonary (31.7%) and renal (24.8%) diseases. Hypomagnesemia and hypermagnesemia were observed in 31.7% and 17.8% of the patients, respectively. Hypomagnesemia was mostly observed in patients with gastrointestinal (50%) and renal diseases (36%). Among the 101 patients, 71 (70.3%) cases died and 30 (29.7%) cases were discharged from the hospital. Hypomagnesaemia was observed in 28.1% of dead patients and 40% of the discharged ones. There was no significant correlation between the serum level of Mg and patients outcome.
Further studies should be conducted on the total serum Mg and ionized level of Mg in serum, and their correlation with the outcome of patients admitted to ICU.