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Correlation of serum calcium with severity of acute ischaemic stroke
Muhammad Ishfaq1, Fahim Ullah2, Saima Akbar3
1Department of Medicine, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Insights
Lower serum calcium levels correlate with increased acute ischemic stroke severity. This finding suggests a potential link between calcium levels and stroke outcomes in patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Clinical Biochemistry
Background:
- Acute ischemic stroke is a leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide.
- Serum calcium plays a crucial role in various physiological processes, including neuronal function and vascular health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between serum calcium levels and the severity of acute ischemic stroke.
- To determine if lower calcium levels predict worse stroke outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 138 patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke.
- Serum calcium levels were measured within 78 hours of stroke onset and adjusted for serum albumin.
- Stroke severity was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS).
Main Results:
- A statistically significant negative correlation (r = -0.237, p = 0.005) was found between serum calcium levels and NIHSS scores.
- Patients with lower serum calcium exhibited more severe stroke symptoms at presentation.
- The mean serum calcium level was 8.82±0.69 mg/dl.
Conclusions:
- Reduced serum calcium levels may be linked to more severe clinical manifestations of acute ischemic stroke.
- This association warrants further investigation in larger, longitudinal studies.
- Monitoring serum calcium could offer insights into stroke severity and patient prognosis.
Objective:
To determine the correlation of serum calcium with severity of acute ischaemic stroke.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan, from January to September 2013, and comprised patients who had suffered ischaemic stroke. All patients aged above 18 years who had been diagnosed to have suffered ischaemic stroke through history, physical examination and computed tomography scan, and who were admitted within the first 72 hours of the onset of the illness were included. Serum calcium was obtained within 78 hours of the onset of stroke and the severity of stroke was assessed at the same time using the National Institute of Health Stroke score.
Results:
Of the 138 patients, 71(51.4%) were women and 67(48.6%) men. The overall mean age was 61.09±11.93 years (range: 34-100 years). The mean National Institute of Health Stroke score was 17.77±7.73 (range: 2-35). Serum calcium of all patients was measured and adjusted for serum albumin level. The mean serum calcium level was 8.82±0.69 mg/dl (range: 6.84-10.48). Bivariate correlation was calculated for continuous data of serum calcium and National Institute of Health Stroke score. The overall Pearson's correlation coefficient was r= -0.237 (p=0.005).
Conclusions:
Lower serum calcium levels may be associated with more severe clinical findings at the onset of stroke.
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