Prognostic Value of Admission Ionized Calcium for Short-Term Mortality in Critically Ill Children With Sepsis: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study

By
Chen, Man
Feng, Juan
Zhang, Zongwei
Lv, Xifeng
Shi, Ming
April 17, 2026
0 min

Frontiers In Pediatrics

Objective:

To assess the prognostic relevance of admission ionized calcium (iCa) levels in predicting 28-day mortality in pediatric patients with sepsis.

Key Findings:

Out of 289 patients, 26 (9.0%) died within 28 days.
Hypocalcemia was present in 50.8% of patients and was associated with higher mortality rates.
Each 0.1 mmol/L reduction in iCa increased mortality risk (HR 1.53).
Admission iCa showed moderate discrimination for 28-day mortality (AUC 0.734).
Incorporating iCa improved risk reclassification metrics (IDI 0.116; NRI 0.324).

Interpretation:

Lower admission iCa levels are independently associated with increased short-term mortality in pediatric sepsis, suggesting its potential as a rapid biomarker for early risk assessment.

Limitations:

Single-center study may limit generalizability.
Retrospective design may introduce biases.

Conclusion:

Admission iCa levels may serve as a valuable biomarker for early risk stratification in critically ill pediatric patients with sepsis.

Prognostic Value of Admission Ionized Calcium for Short-Term Mortality in Critically Ill Children With Sepsis: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study

Objective:

Key Findings:

Interpretation:

Limitations:

Conclusion:

Original Source(s)

Prognostic Value of Admission Ionized Calcium for Short-Term Mortality in Critically Ill Children With Sepsis: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study

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