Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background:Hypomagnesemia, or low levels of magnesium in the blood, can occur in critically ill children for several reasons. The present study was conducted to assess incidence and risk factors of hypomagenesia in critically ill patients. Materials & Methods:84 pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admissions of both genders. Parameters such as weight, admission category (cardiac disease, sepsis, renal failure, CNS related diseases, Trauma and others), co-morbid, metabolic profile (Serum sodium, potassium calcium, magnesium, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and blood pH) was recorded. Total serum magnesium assay was measured by an end-point spectrophotometry. Results: Out of 84 patients, males were 51 and females were 33. Out of 84 PICU admission, hypomagnesia was found in 45 cases. Diseases causing PICU admission was sepsis in 26, cardiac disease in 15, renal failure in 10, CNS diseases in 7, trauma in 6 and others in 20 cases. Hypomagnesia was found in 17 cases of sepsis, 8 cases of cardiac diseases, 4 renal failures, 2 CNS diseases, 1 trauma and 13 others. Age <1 year was seen in 12, >1 year in 33, length of hospitalization was 1-5 days in 21 and >5 days in 34. Metabolic profile showed hyponatremia in 11, hypokalemia in 25, hypocalcemia in 20 and metabolic acidosis in 8 cases. Outcome was alive in 15 and death in 30 cases. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Common risk factors for hypomagnesia was age >1 year, length of hospitalization was >5 days, hypokalemiaand hypocalcemia.