Abstract

Nine hundred and two (902) patients were randomly selected for the study from the patients that reported in the Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. The period of study was two years. The prevalence of hypocalcaemia was 11.53% (serum calcium level = 8.36±0.40 mg/100 ml), and reference range for serum calcium of our laboratory = 9 - 11 mg/100 ml (2.25 - 2.75 mmol/L). The causes of hypocalcaemia found in the study environment are renal failure (27.88%), postoperative cases – thyroidectomy (10.58%), gastroenteritis (8.65%), cardiovascular diseases (8.56%), malnutrition (8.65%), acute respiratory infection (6.73%), encephalitis (6.73%), hypoparathyroidism (4.81%), hepatic coma (3.85%) and other ailments (13.47%). The major cause of hypocalcaemia in the study environment is renal failure (Serum calcium level = 7.77±1.30 mg/100 ml).

Key words: Biochemical screening, hypocalcaemic patients, prevalence.