Magnesium Administration For COPD Exacerbation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

BACKGROUND The role of magnesium in patients with acute chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation remains to be determined.

AIM We aim to explore the effect of magnesium on COPD exacerbation, as well as its impact on pulmonary function tests and on hospital admissions for acute exacerbation in the emergency department.

METHODS This is a systematic review and meta-analysis that included a search of the keywords "magnesium" and "COPD" on PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane databases, and Gray literature (ClinicalTrials.gov and World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform) from 1963 to May 2021.

RESULTS The use of IV magnesium reduced the risk ratio for admission RR= 0.85 (95% CI 0.62 to 1.17). The combined risk ratio for admission increased to 0.95 when we added nebulised magnesium sulphate (95% CI 0.85 to 1.07), p>0.05. The mean score for improvement after IV magnesium was higher (M=16.75, SD=5.11) than the mean score before its administration (M=8.74, SD=8.85), t(4)=-2.57, p=0.031. Thus, the use of IV magnesium sulphate results in a 91.64% improvement in the pulmonary function test.

CONCLUSION IV magnesium sulphate improves the pulmonary function test of patients with acute COPD exacerbation in the ED, and possibly reduces the admission rate.