Comparative Study of Serum Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium and Sodium Levels in Diabetics and Hypertensives with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Introduction: The importance of extracellular and intracellular magnesium has become gradually recognized during the last century. At the present moment, pathologies as common as diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidaemia are associated with an altered metabolism of magnesium. Aim: Study included diabetics and hypertensives with Acute Myocardial Infarction to compare the levels of cations in these subgroups and also to find out any association of cation disturbances with these metabolic disorders. Materials & Methods: Study was conducted in 75 patients (n=75) admitted to the intensive coronary care unit (ICCU) with chest pain and provisional diagnosis of Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI). All the 75 patients were studied serially on 1 day of admission, 3rd day and 7th day after AMI. Patients without serious disease who were seen in the outpatient departments and healthy volunteers were taken as controls (n=30). Results: There is significant decrease in Serum Magnesium and Serum Potassium levels in hypertensives and Diabetics on 1 day of AMI when compared to controls (p<0.01) with no significant change in S.Ca and S. Nalevels (p>0.05). There is significant decrease in Serum Magnesium levels in cases with diabetes (p<0.05) when compared to cases without diabetes. There is lowering of Serum Magnesium levels in cases with Hypertension when compared to cases with out hypertension , but there is no statistical significance. There is no statistically significant change in other electrolytes in cases with and without diabetes and in cases with and without hypertension. Conclusion: There is significant decrease in Serum Magnesium levels in Diabetics with AMI when compared to cases without diabetes and lowering of S.Mg level in hypertensive cases with AMI, with no significant change in S.Ca and S.Na levels.Low Magnesium Levels may be a cause or effect of Diabetes