What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine the frequency of serum magnesium abnormalities and evaluate the diagnostic effectiveness of physician-initiated testing compared to routine magnesium measurement.

June 13, 1990JAMA

Frequency of Hypomagnesemia and Hypermagnesemia

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Authors

RWRobert WhangUniversity of Hawaii System

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Implication

Observational study reveals high rates of undetected magnesium abnormalities in patients undergoing electrolyte panels, suggesting the need for routine magnesium screening.

Key Points

To determine the frequency of serum magnesium abnormalities and evaluate the diagnostic effectiveness of physician-initiated testing compared to routine magnesium measurement.
Measured serum magnesium levels in N=1033 consecutive clinical serum specimens submitted for standard electrolyte analyses.
Identified the proportion of specimens accompanied by physician-initiated requests for magnesium measurement (received for 81 of 1033 specimens, or 7.4%).
Compared physician request rates against the incidence of hypomagnesemia (<0.74 mmol/L), hypermagnesemia (>0.99 mmol/L), and concurrent electrolyte disturbances.
Serum magnesium abnormalities were detected in 52.9% (546/1033) of specimens, consisting of 487 cases of hypomagnesemia and 59 cases of hypermagnesemia.
Physician-initiated requests captured only 9.9% (48/487) of hypomagnesemic patients and 11.9% (7/59) of hypermagnesemic patients.
In patients with coexisting electrolyte disturbances, physician requests detected only 15.1% (8/53) of hypomagnesemic/hypokalemic cases and 10.0% (3/30) of hypomagnesemic/hyponatremic cases.

Cite This Study

Robert Whang (1990) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a85132ae47a343f09bdfb26 https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1990.03440220087036

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Implication

Observational study reveals high rates of undetected magnesium abnormalities in patients undergoing electrolyte panels, suggesting the need for routine magnesium screening.

Frequency of Hypomagnesemia and Hypermagnesemia

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Frequency of Hypomagnesemia and Hypermagnesemia

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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