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Hypomagnesemia and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes
José A Curiel-García1, Martha Rodríguez-Morán, Fernando Guerrero-Romero
1General Hospital of the Mexican Social Security Institute at Durango, Av. Normal y Predio Canoas S/N; 34067, Durango, Dgo., Mexico.
Magnesium Research
|November 18, 2008
Summary
Hypomagnesemia, or low magnesium levels, at Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission is linked to higher mortality in critically ill patients with type 2 diabetes. This finding highlights the importance of monitoring magnesium in this vulnerable patient group.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Clinical Biochemistry
Background:
- Type 2 diabetes is a prevalent condition associated with various complications.
- Critically ill patients often experience electrolyte imbalances.
- Hypomagnesemia is a common electrolyte abnormality in hospitalized patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between hypomagnesemia at Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission and mortality in critically ill patients with type 2 diabetes.
- To determine if low serum magnesium levels are an independent predictor of mortality in this population.
Main Methods:
- A follow-up study involving 14 critically ill patients with type 2 diabetes admitted to the ICU.
- Exclusion criteria included specific comorbidities and treatments.
- Hypomagnesemia defined as serum magnesium < 0.66 mmol/L.
- Logistic regression analysis adjusted for APACHE II score and hsCRP levels.
Main Results:
- 71.4% of patients presented with hypomagnesemia upon ICU admission.
- Mortality was significantly higher in hypomagnesemic patients (80%) compared to normomagnesemic patients (25%).
- Serum magnesium levels were significantly lower in non-survivors than in survivors (p=0.01).
- Hypomagnesemia was independently associated with mortality (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-14.7) after adjustment.
Conclusions:
- Hypomagnesemia at ICU admission appears to be associated with increased mortality in critically ill patients with type 2 diabetes.
- Monitoring and potentially correcting magnesium levels may be crucial for improving outcomes in this patient group.
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