Hypocalcemia in ICU patients

We can conclude that: Hypocalcemia is a frequent finding in ICU patients, both at admission and during the follow-up period. The prevalence rate of total and ionized hypocalcemia in all study population was 67% and 65% respectively with the highest rates observed in trauma patients (95% and 70%) and septic patients (100% and 90%), while their incidence during the follow-up period for all patients was 69% and 48% respectively and also the frequency of this problem was higher in the same groups, trauma (95% and 60%) and septic patients (95% and 75%). Determining ionized Ca+2 levels is useful because many ICU patients have alterations in both arterial pH and serum albumin levels. Hypoalbuminemia, red cell transfusion, hypomagnesemia, renal failure and hyperphosphatemia are predisposing risk factors for the development of hypocalcemia. Total and ionized hypocalcemia associated with a poor prognosis since these patients need longer ICU stay and showed higher mortality rate.