Is magnesium level significant in prognosis of geriatric patients admitted to the emergency department?

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to evaluate the impact of serum magnesium (Mg) level on hospitalization and 28-day mortality in a nonspecific geriatric patient population.

Method: This single-center retrospective and observational clinical study involved patients aged over 70 years who presented to the emergency department for any complaint. Those whose Mg levels were not assessed and those who presented due to trauma, treated in another hospital before coming to our hospital, presented in cardiopulmonary arrest, refused treatment and/or left the hospital without permission, and were referred to another hospital were excluded from this study. The patients were classified as having hypomagnesemia (≤1.7 mg/dL Mg), normomagnesemia (1.7-2.2 mg/dL), and hypermagnesemia (≥2.2 mg/dL). We assessed whether patients between these groups could provide data on hospitalization, discharge, and 28-day mortality.

Results: The average age of the included patients was 77.11 ± 7.91 years. Of the patients, 1032 (55.3 %) were female. The incidence rates of hypomagnesemia, normomagnesemia, and hypermagnesemia significantly differed between the hospitalized and discharged patients (p < 0.01). In older patients, hypermagnesemia was associated with hospitalization. Moreover, a significant difference in Mg levels at 28 days was observed between the deceased patients and survivors (p < 0.001); hypermagnesemia was significantly more common among the deceased patients. The results of the univariate and multivariate regression analyses showed that hypermagnesemia was a significant factor for discharge at 28 days (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: While hypomagnesemia is more manageable than hypermagnesemia, the latter is an important predictor of hospitalization and 28-day mortality in individuals over 70 years old.