Evaluation of admission serum magnesium levels in patients with septic shock and its correlation with outcome

ABSTRACT

Background: Admission hypomagnesemia has been linked with an increased risk of septic shock. The purpose of this study was to evaluate admission serum magnesium levels in patients with septic shock and to determine its correlation with the outcomes.Methods: It was a prospective observational study. Total 50 patients fitting the Sepsis-3 definition between time period of June 2017 to November 2018 were included in the study. Patients with suspected infection were identified at the bedside with qSOFA. Admission serum magnesium levels was measured for all patients included. APACHE II scores were calculated at the end of 24 hours after admission. Routine standard of care treatment was provided to all patients. The patients were monitored for organ dysfunctions based on daily SOFA scores, ventilator free days, vasopressors free days, dialysis free days, length of intensive care unit stay, length of hospital stay. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences for MS Windows.Results: In this study hypomagnesemia was prevalent in 18%, normomagnesemia in 62% and hypermagnesemia in 20% of total included patients. The mean vasopressor free days in Hypomagnesemia group (7.11�.79 days) were higher than those in normomagnesemic patients (5.06�51 days) and hypermagnesemia patients (1.70�09 days). Out of total 50 patients 18 died and 32 recovered. 11 patients out of 32 who recovered had abnormal admission serum magnesium levels whereas 8 pts out of 18 who died had abnormal admission serum magnesium levels. SOFA score in hypomagnesemic patients admitted with septic shock compared with those of normomagnesemic and hypermagnesemic patients was statistically significant.Conclusions: Author did not find any statistically significant correlation between admission magnesium levels in septic shock patients and outcomes although SOFA score was higher in hypomagnesemic patients admitted with septic shock compared with those of normomagnesemic and hypermagnesemic patients. Serum magnesium may not truly reflect body抯 magnesium status. RBC magnesium may need to be studied to see whether it is a more reliable biomarker.