Magnesium Deficiency In Patients Hospitalized in Internal Medicine Wards

Magnesium Deficiency In Patients Hospitalized in Internal Medicine Wards

Hypomagnesemia is a common entity in the inpatient and outpatient setting. in previous retrospective study hypomagnesemic patients have higher mortality and longer hospitalization. whether hypomagnesemia is merely a marker of poor prognosis, or whether replacing it can improve outcomes is unclear. The current standard of care is to discharge these patients without workup or further treatment, even if patients had received intravenous therapy while hospitalized. The investigator wish to examine prospectively whether giving replacement therapy affects mortality, length of hospital stay and overall well-being. In order to replete intracellular levels and replete magnesium stores, magnesium should be given for several months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Any patient admitted over the age of 18, has hypomagnesemia (magnesium level ≤1.9 mg/dL) and is able to give consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• A patient unable to give consent.
• A patient admitted for an elective procedure.
• A patient in critical condition or dying.
• Patients with advanced kidney disease with eGFR<15ml/min or on dialysis.
• Patients with severe diarrhea, precluding use of magnesium citrate.
• Patients already receiving magnesium supplements.
• Patients with severe malnutrition or life-threatening hypomagnesemia (serum level <1mg/dL), requiring intravenous and oral replacement of magnesium.