Hypomagnesaemia in critically ill patients with haematological malignancies

Introduction: There is currently little information regarding the incidence of hypomagnesaemia and its impact on the prognosis of critically ill patients with haematological malignancies. Objective: This study sought to describe the incidence of hypomagnesaemia in critically ill patients with haematological malignancies admitted to an oncological intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: A total of 102 critically ill patients with haematological malignancies, who were 18 years of age and admitted to the ICU between January 2008 and April 2011, were included in this study. Hypomagnesaemia was defined as a serum magnesium concentration below 1.7 mg/dl. Results: The incidence of hypomagnesaemia at admission or during the first 24 hours of stay in the ICU was 22.5% (23/102). The hospital mortality rates of patients with and without hypomagnesaemia were 47.8% and 60.7%, respectively. Conclusion: The incidence of hypomagnesaemia in critically ill patients with haematological malignancies was 22.5%. Mortality in the ICU and in the hospital was similar in patients with and without hypomagnesaemia.