Hypomagnesemia in pediatric intensive care unit: etiology, risk factors and relationship of mortality
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Aim:We aimed to identify the etiology, risk factors, frequency, and mortality associated with hypomagnesemia in hospitalized patients in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and to contribute to reducing mortality by addressing hypomagnesemia in these patients. Methods:In this study, the files of patients admitted to the Şahinbey Research and Practice Hospital PICU between January 2014 and August 2016 were retrospectively reviewed.Age, gender, diagnosis, underlying diseases, postoperative status, Pediatric Mortality Index, and Pediatric Mortality Risk Scores were recorded.The definition of hypomagnesemia is defined as the serum magnesium level below 1.7 mg / dL (0.7 mmol / L). Results:The clinical features of the patients are as follows: A total of 229 cases were included, with a mean age of 57.29 months (range: 1-191 months).Of these, 118 (51.5%) were male, and 111 (48.5%) were female.Hypomagnesemia was present in 44 cases (19.2%) at the time of admission, and it developed in 162 cases (7.7%) during hospitalization.In 65 patients (28.4%), hypomagnesemia was not observed either before or during hospitalization.The average duration of hospitalization was 17.3 ± 21.9 days in patients with hypomagnesemia and 10.7 ± 22.8 days in those without hypomagnesemia (p=0.001).The mortality rate was 37.3% in the group with normal magnesium levels, 45.5% in patients with hypomagnesemia at admission, and 47.5% in patients who developed hypomagnesemia during hospitalization.Among the patients who developed hypomagnesemia during hospitalization, 81.5% had hypoalbuminemia, 30.9% had hypophosphatemia, and 35.5% had hypokalemia (p=0.001).Conclusion: Hypomagnesemia is common in the PICU, and patients with hypomagnesemia tend to have a longer hospital stay, higher mortality rates, a greater need for mechanical ventilation, and are often accompanied by electrolyte disturbances.Magnesium levels should be closely monitored in the PICU.Larger prospective studies are needed to evaluate hypomagnesemia and its associated factors in pediatric intensive care units.
DOI: 10.4328/acam.22398
Authors: Hasan Avşar, Metin Kılıç, Arzu Oto, Mehmet Boşnak
Institutions: Bursa City Hospital, Gaziantep University
Language: English
Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics
Field: Nursing
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4410097047