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General Rehabilitation

Hypomagnesemia is Associated with Prolonged Length of Stay in Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation after Stroke

Friday, October 24, 2025
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM MT
Location: Kiosk 9
Disclosure(s):
Tobin Chakkala, DO: No financial relationships to disclose
Sharareh Sharififar, PhD, PT: No financial relationships to disclose
Heather K. Vincent, MS, PhD: No financial relationships to disclose
Background and/or Objectives: In the acute care setting 35% of patients with stroke present with hypomagnesemia (HPMG), and this condition is associated with poor outcomes, complications and mortality risk. The objective of this analysis was to determine the effect of hypomagnesemia on post-acute outcomes including (LOS), resource use, rate of functional gain and discharge destination.

Design: Cross sectional analysis.

Setting : Quaternary care inpatient rehabilitation facility

Participants : Patients admitted with stroke who had hypomagnesemia (HPMG n=31; 5.1%, 59.8±11.5 yr) or not (No HPMG; n=572; 94.9%, 61.3±10.0 yr).

Interventions: n/a

Main Outcome Measures: LOS (categorized into short ≤7 days, moderate 8-14 days and prolonged >14 days); therapy resource use (min); rate of functional gain (IRF-PAI GG score points/day); discharge destination.

Results: More patients with HPMG had prolonged LOS>14 days (74.2% vs 51.9%) and fewer had short LOS ≤7 days (3.2% vs 16.4%; both p=0.034). While overall therapy resource use was greater during the LOS (796 vs 628 min [physical therapy], 714 vs 648 min [occupational therapy], 373 vs 333 min [speech language therapy], respectively), HPMG participated in an average of 10% fewer minutes daily of these therapies than No HPMG. Nutritional products were provided to 93.5% and 58.4% of HPMG and No HPMG, respectively (p < 0.001). Rate of functional change for self-care, transfers and mobility GG scores were overall not different between groups. Both groups had similar home discharge (HPMG 77.5% [58.1% needed home health] vs No HPMG 74.6% [49% needed home health]).

Conclusions: HPMG may decrease post-acute care efficiency, increase resource use and prolong post-acute hospital LOS to achieve similar functional outcomes as their comparators. Improved magnesium control prior to IRF admission may help offset these outcomes. These findings assist with resource planning for patients admitted with stroke and this comorbid diagnosis.