Association of Serum Calcium Levels with Clinical Severity of Acute Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

Objective: To determine the association of serum calcium levels with clinical severity of acute ischemic stroke. 

Study Design: Cross-sectional study 
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the General Medicine Department, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, from January 2025 till June 2025. 

Methods: A total of 63 patients aged 30–70 years presenting with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled. Serum calcium levels were measured at admission, and stroke severity was assessed using the NIH Stroke Scale. Patients were categorized into two groups based on serum calcium levels: <8.5 mg/dL and ≥8.5 mg/dL. Demographic variables, comorbidities, and risk factors were recorded.  

Results: The mean age of the patients was 51.86 ± 10.903 years, while the mean BMI was 26.17 ± 4.81 kg/m². The average duration since stroke onset was 37.48 ± 20.07 hours, and the mean serum calcium level was 8.43 ± 1.06 mg/dL. Patients with lower calcium levels had a higher proportion of moderate, moderate-to-severe, and severe stroke categories. A significant association was found between serum calcium levels and stroke severity (p = 0.03).  

Conclusion: Lower serum calcium levels were significantly associated with increased clinical severity of acute ischemic stroke. Serum calcium may serve as a simple and useful marker for early risk stratification in acute stroke.