Lower Serum Magnesium Levels Are Associated with a Higher Risk of Fractures and Vascular Calcifications in Hemodialysis Patients

Overview

Journal Clin Kidney J

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Nephrology

Date 2025 Feb 26

PMID 40008355

Authors

Patricia Joao Matias

Goncalo Avila

Diogo Domingos

Celia Gil

Anibal Ferreira

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Magnesium (Mg) deficiency seems to be associated with altered bone metabolism and vascular calcifications (VC). This study aimed to evaluate the association between serum Mg levels and incident bone fragility fractures and VC in a cohort of prevalent hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 206 patients, with a mean age of 68.3 ± 13.1 years; 121 (59%) were male, and the median follow-up time was 58 months.

Results: Thirty-seven episodes of fragility fractures were identified with a median HD vintage of 42 months-an incidence rate of 29 per 1000 person-years. Patients with fractures showed lower Mg levels compared with those without fractures ( < .001) and more VC ( = .01). In a Cox regression analysis, time to fragility fracture was independently associated with serum Mg <2.2 mg/dL ( < .001), in a model adjusted to age, female gender, HD vintage, diabetes mellitus, body mass index, albumin, parathyroid hormone, active vitamin D therapy and the presence of VC. Patients with Mg serum levels <2.2 mg/dL had a 1.32-fold higher risk of fragility fractures ( < .001).

Conclusions: This study showed that the incidence of bone fragility fractures in HD patients is high and is significantly associated with lower Mg levels and with the presence of more VC.

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