Frequency and Risk Factors of Hypophosphatemia in Patients Admitted to Emergency Intensive Care Unit in Zagazig University Hospitals

BACKGROUND: Inorganic phosphate is a major electrolyte that participates in many functional and integral processes in the human body. Low Pi levels may lead to multiple organ dysfunction. It is estimated to occur in 40–80% of intensive care unit (ICU) patients. However, it may be ignored during the initial evaluation in ICU. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective cross-sectional study included 500 adult ICU cases in two groups; a group with normal Pi levels and a group with hypophosphatemia. All admitted patients were subjected to full history taking, and clinical, laboratory, and radiological evaluation. Collected data were coded, processed, and analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) software. RESULTS: Among 500 adult ICU patients; 56.8% had normal phosphate levels while the remaining 43.2% had low phosphate levels. Patients in the hypophosphatemia group were associated with a significantly higher Acute Physiological and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) score, a longer hospital and ICU stay, a higher incidence of mechanical ventilation use with a longer duration on it, and a significantly higher mortality rate. CONCLUSION: Risk factors for hypophosphatemia include a higher APACHE II score, longer stay in the hospital and ICU, a higher ratio of mechanical ventilation, and a higher mortality rate. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: El-Sayed Bsar AEM, El-Wakiel SAR, El-Harrisi MAH, Elshafei ASH. Frequency and Risk Factors of Hypophosphatemia in Patients Admitted to Emergency Intensive Care Unit in Zagazig University Hospitals. Indian J Crit Care Med 2023;27(4):277–282.