Key result
An automated laboratory intervention identified hypomagnesemia in 9.5% (41 of 430) of primary care patients with arrhythmia, at a reagent cost of 3.15€ per detected case.
Why the study?
Early diagnosis and timely treatment of hypomagnesemia is beneficial, but it often goes underdiagnosed.
Does an automated computer-based intervention identify hypomagnesemia in primary care patients with arrhythmia?
Cross-Sectional (n=430)
Does an automated computer-based intervention identify hypomagnesemia in primary care patients with arrhythmia?
An automated laboratory information system intervention is a useful and affordable strategy to identify underdiagnosed hypomagnesemia in primary care patients with arrhythmia.
May enhance hypomagnesemia detection in arrhythmia via automated testing; hypothesis-generating for outcomes in primary care.
OBJECTIVES: Hypomagnesemia early diagnosis and consequently early, timely magnesium supplementation is of utmost benefit, but it often goes underdiagnosed. The objective was to show and monitor an intervention to identify hypomagnesemia in patients with arrhythmia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was designed in the laboratory. In primary care patients, the Laboratory Information System would automatically add a serum magnesium test when sample availability is present in any request when a diagnosis of arrhythmia is made. We counted the number of detected patients with hypomagnesemia (serum magnesium <1.7 mg/dL, <0.7 mmol/L), and calculated the cost in reagent of each identified case. RESULTS: In 430 patients with arrhythmia, serum magnesium was measured, and 41 (9.5%) had hypomagnesemia results. One patient showed severe hypomagnesemia values (<1.2 mg/dL and <0.49 mmol/L). Patients with a deficit were significantly ( P <0.01) older than the total group of patients with normal magnesium values (66.3±13.2 versus 61.6±12.5). Each case represented a cost of 3.15€ in reagent. CONCLUSIONS: The automated computer-based intervention to identify patients with hypomagnesemia was useful and affordable, given the cost per detected case.
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López‐Garrigós et al. (2024) conducted a cross-sectional in Arrhythmia (n=430). Automated Laboratory Information System addition of serum magnesium test was evaluated on Detection of hypomagnesemia (serum magnesium <1.7 mg/dL) and reagent cost per identified case. An automated laboratory intervention identified hypomagnesemia in 9.5% (41 of 430) of primary care patients with arrhythmia, at a reagent cost of 3.15€ per detected case.
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