Trace Element Disparities in Obstetric Intensive Care Unit Patients: A Cross-sectional Study of Survivors and Nonsurvivors

Background: Critically ill obstetric patients often exhibit metabolic imbalances, including variations in trace elements.The identification of specific mineral imbalances could provide insights into patient prognosis and guide therapeutic interventions.This study aims to compare trace element variations between survivors and nonsurvivors in obstetric patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) to determine potential prognostic markers.Methodology: A retrospective observational study was conducted on obstetric ICU patients, comparing levels of selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca) between survivors and nonsurvivors.Statistical analyses included multivariate t-tests, Pearson correlations, and regression models.Results: Among the 224 patients, 127 (56.7%) survived, while 97 (43.3%) did not.No significant differences were found in trace element levels between the two groups.Selenium (p = 0.592), zinc (p = 0.216), copper (p = 0.809), magnesium (p = 0.539), and calcium (p = 0.231) all showed nonsignificant variations.However, ICU stay duration correlated positively with age (p = 0.018) and negatively with selenium (p = 0.025) and calcium (p = 0.039).Regression analysis revealed a significant negative association between ICU duration and selenium (p = 0.026). Conclusion:Although no significant differences in trace element levels were found between survivors and nonsurvivors, ICU duration correlated with age, selenium, and calcium levels, indicating potential prognostic relevance.Future studies should explore larger cohorts and mechanistic insights into these associations.