Impact of Serum Magnesium Levels on Kidney and Cardiovascular Prognosis and Mortality in CKD Patients

Abstract

In the general population, hypomagnesemia has been associated with cardiovascular events and hypermagnesemia with overall mortality. In chronic kidney disease (CKD) the evidence is not so strong. The objective of our study was to investigate the relationship between serum magnesium (SMg) concentration and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, all-cause mortality, and the progression to kidney failure in a population with CKD. Observational study of a cohort of 746 patients with CKD. Baseline characteristics and analytical profile were collected at the first visit, and patients were followed for a mean of 42.6months. A cohort of 746 patients were analyzed, age 70±13years, 62.9% were male, 45.2% had CKD grade 3, and 35.9% grade 4. The mean SMg concentration was 2.09±0.33mg/dL, with a close correlation between SMg concentration and serum creatinine, phosphorus, and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) values. Use of calcitriol was associated with higher SMg (SMgH) concentration, while calcium supplements and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) were associated with lower SMg concentration. For risk of cardiovascular events, patients with hypermagnesemia had an overall higher risk on a crude analysis (Log Rank 4.83, P=.28) and adjusted analysis (HR=1.34, CI 1.02-1.77, P=.037). For risk of all-cause mortality, patients with hypermagnesemia had an overall higher risk on crude analysis (Log Rank 13.11, P>.001) and adjusted analysis (HR=1.5424, IC=1.002-2.319, P=.049). After performing a propensity score matching for SMg concentration, we achieved two comparable groups of 287 patients, finding again higher all-cause mortality in the hypermagnesemia group (LogRank 15.147, P<.001), that persisted in the Cox model adjusted for calcium, phosphorus, and iPTH. No association was found between SMg concentration and initiation of kidney replacement therapy (KRT). Magnesium concentration increases with decreasing kidney function. Hypermagnesemia predicts cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in this same population. Thus, magnesium supplementation should be used with caution in these patients.