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High- and low-inpatients’ serum magnesium levels are associated with in-hospital mortality in elderly patients: a neglected marker?

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Abstract

Background

Altered serum magnesium (Mg) level in the human body has been hypothesized to have a role in the prediction of hospitalization and mortality; however, the reported outcomes are not conclusive.

Aims

The present study aimed to analyze the relationship between serum Mg and in-hospital mortality (IHM) in patients admitted to the medical ward of two hospitals in the Veneto region (Italy).

Methods

Patients > 18 years hospitalized in the medical wards of the hospitals of Vittorio Veneto and Conegliano, Italy (from January 12, 2011, through December 27, 2016) with at least one measurement of serum Mg were included in the study. A logistic regression model was used to assess the unadjusted and adjusted (by age, gender, Charlson Comorbidity index, discharge diagnosis’ class) association of serum Mg and IHM.

Results

In total 5024 patients were analyzed, corresponding to 6980 total admissions. The unadjusted analysis showed that IHM risk was significantly higher with 0.2 mg/dl incremental serum Mg level change from 2.4 mg/dl to 2.6, (OR 1.71 95% CI 1.55–1.89) and with 0.2 mg/dl change from serum Mg level of 1.4 mg/dl to 1.2 mg/dl, (OR 1.28 95% CI 1.17–1.40). Such results were confirmed at adjusted analysis.

Discussion

Present findings have relevant implications for the clinical management of patients suffering from medical conditions, highlighting the need for analyzing Mg concentration carefully.

Conclusions

Serum Mg levels seem to be a good predictor of IHM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Via Loredan, 18, 35131, Padua, Italy

    Giulia Lorenzoni, Subhashisa Swain, Corrado Lanera, Ileana Baldi, Sabino Iliceto & Dario Gregori

  2. Medical Department, Vittorio Veneto Hospital, Vittorio Veneto, Italy

    Mihaela Florin

Authors
  1. Giulia Lorenzoni
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  2. Subhashisa Swain
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  3. Corrado Lanera
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  4. Mihaela Florin
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  5. Ileana Baldi
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  6. Sabino Iliceto
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  7. Dario Gregori
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Correspondence to Dario Gregori.

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Since the study was retrospective and used only de-identified data, the ethical approval was not needed.

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Individual informed consent was not needed since the study was retrospective and only de-identified data were shared for the study.

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Lorenzoni, G., Swain, S., Lanera, C. et al. High- and low-inpatients’ serum magnesium levels are associated with in-hospital mortality in elderly patients: a neglected marker?. Aging Clin Exp Res 32, 407–413 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01230-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01230-6

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