ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME;

Abstract

Introduction: Magnesium is the fourth most abundant cation in the body and the second most abundant intracellular cationafter potassium. Magnesium plays a fundamental role in many functions of the cell, including energy transfer, storage, and uses protein,carbohydrate, and fat metabolism; maintenance of normal cell membrane function; and the regulation of parathyroid hormone (PTH)secretion. Objective: To determine the frequency of hypomagnesaemia in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).Design: Cross -sectional study. Place and duration: Coronary Care Units and medical ward in Allied Hospital Faisalabad, from 26-01-2010 to 25-07-2010. Settings: The study was conducted in medical unit II and coronary care unit of Allied Hospital Faisalabad. SampleSize: Sample size was calculated by using WHO sample size calculator taking confidence level 95%, population proportion 7.7% andrequired precision 4%. Sample size n = 171. Sampling Technique: Non-probability consecutive sampling. Method: A total of 171patients fulfilling the criteria of ACS admitted in M-II and CCU were enrolled in the study, demographic details, history and clinicalexamination of the patients were recorded. Blood sample was collected in estimation of serum magnesium level. Results: In this study themean serum magnesium was 1.59 ±8.380 in males and 1.56±7.678 in females. Among the 171 acute coronary syndrome patients, 14(8.2%) were diagnosed with hypomagnesaemia. There were 8 (8.8%) male and 6(7.5%) female patients. 157 (91.8%) patients did nothave hypomagnesaemia out of 83 (91.2%) were male and 74 (92.5%) were female patients. There was male predominance. Male to maleratio was 1.33:1. Conclusions: The results showed that frequency of hypomagnesaemia in acute coronary syndrome was significantlyhigh and comparable to other studies. There was male preponderance. However, there was variation in the occurrence ofhypomagnesaemia in acute coronary syndrome. Early assessment of serum magnesium concentration is needed in acute coronarysyndrome in order to implement proper magnesium supplementation.