A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY ON SERUM MAGNESIUM LEVELS IN CHILDRENS ADMITTED TO PAEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (PICU) AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: Magnesium, often termed the "forgotten electrolyte," is essential for numerous physiological functions. Critically ill children are particularly vulnerable to electrolyte imbalances, yet data on magnesium abnormalities in Indian paediatric populations remain limited. Objective: To ascertain the frequency of hypomagnesemia and hypermagnesemia in children admitted to the pediatric critical care unit and to establish a relationship between entrance serum magnesium levels and both mortality and length of stay in the intensive care unit. Materials and Methods: This 18-month prospective observational research was carried out in a tertiary care facility. 74 children between the ages of one month and eighteen who were hospitalized to the pediatric intensive care unit were included in the study. The FRONZAMAN DYE technique was used to test serum magnesium levels upon admission. Patient outcomes, length of stay in the intensive care unit, clinical parameters, and Pediatric Risk of Mortality III scores were all documented and examined. Results: Infants (0–12 months) made up 58.1% of the cohort, with a median age of 9.5 months. 10.8% of children had hypermagnesemia, 4.1% had hypomagnesemia, and 85.1% had normal magnesium levels. The total death rate was 4.1%. The mean blood magnesium level was 2.40 ± 0.30 mg/dL in non-survivors and 2.11 ± 0.26 mg/dL in survivors; however, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.235). Serum magnesium levels and length of stay in the critical care unit did not significantly correlate (p = 0.930). There was a statistically significant correlation between higher Pediatric Risk of Mortality III scores and mortality (p = 0.020). Conclusion: Magnesium abnormalities were present in a minority of critically ill children in this cohort and did not show significant independent associations with mortality or duration of intensive care unit stay. Disease severity, as measured by the Pediatric Risk of Mortality III score, remained the strongest predictor of adverse outcomes. Routine monitoring of serum magnesium is recommended as part of comprehensive electrolyte assessment in pediatric intensive care settings.