Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Count Ratio Has a Close Association With Severe Acute Colonic Diverticulitis in Patients Undergoing Surgical Treatment

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic potential of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte count ratio (NLCR) for acute diverticulitis. Summary of Background Data: We evaluated NLCR in patients with acute colonic diverticulitis who were treated with conservative and surgical treatments. Methods: A total of 205 patients who underwent surgical treatment or conservative management of acute diverticulitis between 2012 and 2016 were reviewed. Patients' age; sex; hospital days; co-morbidity; complication; period of use of antibiotics; treatment method; body temperature; and initial laboratory results such as neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, NLCR, and serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were assessed. Results: The median ages of the conservative and surgical treatment groups were 46 and 68 years, respectively. Median CRP and glucose levels were high in acute colonic diverticulitis patients who underwent surgical treatment (P < 0.001, P < 0.001). Albumin level was low in the surgical treatment group (P < 0.001). NLCR was significantly different in both groups (conservative management vs surgical treatment, 4.1 mg/L versus 8.5 mg/L; P < 0.001). Median white blood cells was 11.36 × 109/L in the conservative management group and 14.0 × 109/L in the surgical treatment group, with no significance (P = 0.071). Multivariate analysis revealed that NLCR >10.21 [odds ratio (OR) = 5.613, P = 0.022]; CRP >17.23 mg/L (OR = 4.241, P = 0.006); and albumin ≤3.5 (OR = 4.192, P = 0.036) were significant for acute colonic diverticulitis patients. Conclusion: NLCR, CRP, and albumin levels were significantly associated with acute colonic diverticulitis in the surgical treatment group, and NLCR was the most powerful predictive marker of severe acute colonic diverticulitis.