Hypomagnesemia in the ICU - Does Correction Matter?

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Clinical Biochemistry
• Medical Research

Background:

• Low magnesium levels (hypomagnesemia) are linked to poor outcomes in critically ill patients.
• Hypomagnesemia remains under-recognized and inadequately treated in intensive care units (ICUs).
• The impact of correcting hypomagnesemia on ICU patient outcomes has not been previously studied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish standard magnesium (Mg) levels in a healthy Indian population and compare with Western data.
• To assess admission Mg levels in critically ill patients at an Indian tertiary hospital's ICU.
• To determine if routine correction of hypomagnesemia impacts ICU patient outcomes compared to historical data.

Main Methods:

• Observational study conducted in a tertiary hospital's intensive care unit in South India.
• Measured serum magnesium levels on admission for critically ill patients.
• Compared outcomes (ICU stay, mechanical ventilation, mortality) between patients receiving routine Mg correction and a historical control group.

Main Results:

• Mean serum magnesium in healthy Indians (2.112 mg/dL) aligns with Western data.
• Hypomagnesemia incidence was 23.96% among critically ill ICU admissions (Mg+2 ≤1.7 mg/dL).
• Routine magnesium correction group showed reduced need for and duration of mechanical ventilation, and significantly lower ICU mortality (22.9% vs. 39.6%).

Conclusions:

• Magnesium levels in healthy Indian and Western populations are comparable.
• Routine screening and magnesium replacement in critically ill patients with hypomagnesemia reduce morbidity.
• Correction of hypomagnesemia leads to a statistically significant reduction in overall ICU mortality.