Intravenous magnesium sulphate does not improve survival or disability outcomes in people with stroke

Abstract

Question Does intravenous magnesium sulphate improve survival or disability outcomes if given within 12 hours of stroke onset? Study design Multicentre randomised controlled trial. Main results Intravenous magnesium sulphate did not significantly improve survival or disability outcomes at 90 days compared with placebo in people with stroke (see Table 1). Table 1 Survival and disability outcomes at 90 days in people with stroke. Placebo ( N=1198) Magnesium Sulphate ( N=1188) Odds Ratio (95% CI) P value Combined outcome of death and disability Not reported Not reported 0.95 (0.80 to 1.13) 0.59 Death 196 (16.4%) 227 (19.1%) 1.22 (0.98 to 1.53) 0.07 Barthel score <95 787 (65.7%) 775 (65.2%) 0.99 (0.83 to 1.19) 0.92 Barthel score <60 445 (37.1%) 449 (37.8%) 1.03 (0.86 to 1.24) 0.74 Modified Rankin score >1 858 (71.6%) 826 (69.5%) 0.91 (0.75 to 1.09) 0.30 Authors’ conclusions Intravenous magnesium sulphate given within 12 hours of stroke does not improve survival or disability outcomes.