Endokrinologie und Diabetesforschung

Zinc Levels in Critically Ill Elderly Patients

Salma MS Elsaid and Walaa W Aly

Zinc Levels in Critically Ill Elderly Patients

Critically ill patients are generally exposed to an increased oxidative stress, which is proportional to the severity of their condition. Zinc plays a crucial role in the development and regulation of the immune system and its deficiency may lead to depleted immunity and increased susceptibility to infections. The aim of the current study is to detect serum zinc levels among critically ill patients and whether it is related to mortality, length of stay in the intensive care unit, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores or not.