Q: It is a norm to do electrolytes frequently in ICUs. One of the essential electrolyte is calcium. Do you know what level of ionized calcium - High or Low - may relate to ICU mortality?


Answer: In one of the recent study 177,578 ionized calcium measurements were performed, from 7024 patients, with a mean value of 1.11 mmol/L (ionized calcium measured every 4.5 hrs on average).

From multivariate logistic regression analysis, an ionized calcium less than 0.8 mmol/L or an ionized calcium more than 1.4 mmol/L were independently found to be associated with ICU and hospital mortality.

Ionized calcium concentration and outcome in critical illness, Critical Care Medicine: February 2011 - Volume 39 - Issue 2 - pp 314-321