Association between serum magnesium concentrations and the risk of developing acute kidney injury in patients with cirrhosis: a retrospective cohort study based on the MIMIC-IV database

Abstract

Background In various disease contexts, magnesium abnormalities are associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) incidence. However, this association remains unclear and has not been systematically investigated in patients with cirrhosis. Hence, we aimed to elucidate the association between admission serum magnesium levels and AKI incidence in intensive care unit (ICU)-admitted cirrhotic patients.Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted using MIMIC-IV2.2 data, focusing on critically ill patients with cirrhosis. We employed univariable and multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic spline analyses to robustly address our research objectives. To further substantiate the findings, subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also conducted.Results Among the 3,228 enrolled ICU-admitted cirrhotic patients, 34.4% were female, and the overall AKI incidence was 68.6% (2,213/3,228). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed an independent relationship between elevated serum magnesium levels and increased AKI risk (OR = 1.55 [95% CI = 1.15–2.09], p = 0.004). Compared with individuals with serum magnesium levels 0.05).Conclusions High serum magnesium concentrations were significantly associated with an increased AKI risk in ICU-admitted patients with cirrhosis. Further randomized trials are needed to confirm this association.

Keywords

• Cirrhosis
• acute kidney injury
• magnesium
• intensive care unit