European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Background: Electrolytes are present in the human body and the functioning of the heart is dependent upon normal levels of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium. Magnesium, potassium and calcium are three important electrolytes which play an important role in arrhythmogenesis. Hence the present study was carried out with the objective of determining electrolyte imbalance with special reference to the magnesium, potassium and calcium in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and its association with development of arrythmias in tertiary health care centre in central India. Methods: A total of 134 patients who were presented to the hospital within 24 hours of onset of symptoms of AMI and diagnosed as case of Acute STEMI were included in the study. Patients who don’t give consent were excluded from the study. Results: The mean serum magnesium levels in patients with arrythmias was 1.75±0.23 and in patients without arrythmias was 1.86±0.23 and which was statistically significant. Patients of AMI with low serum potassium levels and low serum magnesium levels were more prone to developed arrythmias than patients with normal serum potassium and magnesium levels. Serum calcium levels in AMI patients were not significantly associated with development of arrythmias. However. the serum magnesium in patients who expired were significantly low (1.56±0.23) as compared to survivors (1.82±0.23). Also, serum potassium in patients who expired were significantly low (3.34±0.44) as compared to survivors (3.73±0.44). Conclusion: Thus, lower levels of serum potassium and serum magnesium in patients of AMI are associated with a higher rate of occurrence of arrythmias and mortality.