Serum magnesium in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 from Wuhan, China

Magnes Res. 2021 Aug 1;34(3):103-113. doi: 10.1684/mrh.2021.0488.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the significance of hypomagnesemia in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and clarify its possible pathogenesis. A retrospective cohort study was conducted by reviewing 83 patients hospitalized in Guanggu district, Wuhan Third Hospital, China. Clinical histories, laboratory findings and outcome data were collected. Eighteen patients had hypomagnesemia during hospitalization. Fourteen patients were in the critical group and six died. In the critical group, serum magnesium (0.72 ± 0.15 mmol/L) was much lower than that in the moderate and severe groups. At the same time, we also found that several indicators are correlated with the level of magnesium. The level of magnesium was positively associated with the lymphocyte count (r = 0.203, P = 0.004) and platelet count (r = 0.217, P = 0.002) but negatively related to the levels of CRP (r = -0.277, P = 0.000), LDH (r = -0.185, P = 0.011) and α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (r = -0.198, P = 0.008) in the critical group. Hypomagnesemia might increase symptoms and may be associated with mortality in COVID-19 by affecting enzyme activity and activating the inflammatory response. Thus, magnesium might play a key role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; disease severity; inflammation; magnesium; mortality.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • C-Reactive Protein / biosynthesis
  • COVID-19 / blood*
  • COVID-19 / complications*
  • China / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase / blood
  • Inflammation
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / blood
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Lymphocytes / cytology
  • Magnesium / blood*
  • Magnesium Deficiency / blood*
  • Magnesium Deficiency / complications*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Platelet Count
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Temperature
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • C-Reactive Protein
  • 2-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase
  • Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase
  • Magnesium