Background:  COPD is one of the most common disease affecting the elderly population in the world. The course of the disease is characterized by frequent exacerbations. Many factors play role in exacerbation of COPD. One such factors is serum magnesium in the body. The objective of the study is to ascertain the correlation between serum magnesium levels during acute exacerbation of COPD.

Aim and Objective: Estimating serum magnesium levels in acute exacerbation of COPD. To correlate the relation of magnesium levels in patients of acute exacerbation of COPD at the time of admission and at the time of discharge.

Material and Methods: This study was done among 100 patients presented with acute exacerbation of COPD in emergency department of Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital from November 2018 to June 2020. Patients detailed history, clinical examination and necessary investigation were done for the patients. Patients admitted with AECOPD above 40 years was included in the study, and patients with conditions causing hyper or hypomagnesemia were excluded.

Statistical Methods: The data was analyzed using SPSS version 23.0 and Microsoft excel 2019.

Results: Mean serum magnesium level at the time of admission was 1.287 mg/dl (SD±0.33) and the time of discharge was 2.009 mg/dl (SD± 0.2955). The association of serum magnesium level and acute exacerbation of COPD was found to be statistically significant with p value less than .05.

Conclusion: Patients presented with acute exacerbation of COPD had hypomagnesemia. So magnesium was modifiable and independent risk factor for COPD exacerbation.

Keywords: COPD, acute exacerbation, serum magnesium, asthma, Anthonisens criteria.

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Dr Ramakrishna Rao M

Professor, Department of General Medicine, Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital, Chidambaram, India, 608002