The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India
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Hypomagnesemia is an important but underdiagnosed electrolyte abnormality in critically ill patients. There are many studies to find the prevalence of hypomagnesemia and its effects on mortality and morbidity in these patients. Most of these studies have been carried out in intensive care units caring for patients with medical and surgical conditions and postoperative patients or those in respiratory intensive care unit, or critically ill cancer patients. This study was carried out on patients admitted to the medical acute care unit in a major tertiary care hospital. ⋯ There was a high prevalence of hypomagnesemia in the critically ill patients. Hypomagnesemia was associated with a higher mortality rate in critically ill patients. The need for ventilatory support was significantly higher in hypomagnesemic patients. Hypomagnesemic patients required ventilator support for longer duration. Hypomagnesemia was commonly associated with sepsis and diabetes mellitus. The duration of MICU stay and APACHE score on admission did not vary in patients with low magnesium and normal magnesium. Hypomagnesemia is more commonly seen in patients with hypocalcemia and hypoalbuminemia.