Total Versus Ionized Calcium: Valid Index of Calcium Status in Critically Ill Patients

Key Points

• The research aims to evaluate the accuracy of total and ionized calcium measurements for determining calcium status in critically ill patients.
• Assessment of total and ionized calcium levels in critically ill patients
• Comparison of diagnostic accuracy and agreement between pHiCa and iCa
• Evaluation of prognostic utility related to ICU outcomes
• pHiCa shows superior diagnostic accuracy over conventional methods
• Ionized calcium is essential for precise calcium assessment despite lacking prognostic value
• Total calcium measurements may misclassify calcium status in critically ill patients

Abstract