UTILITY OF HALP SCORE IN PREDICTING MORTALITY IN ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE

Abstract

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) poses significant mortality and morbidity risks. The HALP score, integrating hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocytes, and platelets, has been proposed as a potential marker for predicting outcomes in AIS patients. This study evaluates the predictive utility of the HALP score for mortality and recurrence in these patients. Objective: To assess the predictive value of the HALP score at admission for mortality and recurrent stroke within one and six months post-admission. Methods: In this prospective hospital-based cohort study, 1206 patients presenting with AIS were included. Patients were stratified into tertiles based on their HALP score at admission. The study accounted for age, gender, medical history, and NIHSS scores at baseline. Results: The cohort's mean age was 60.55 years, with 33.8% female. Patients with lower HALP scores showed worse outcomes, with 1.5% lost to follow-up and 1.3% experiencing poor outcomes at one month. At six months, 9.2% were lost to follow-up, and 8.8% had poor outcomes. Higher HALP scores correlated with reduced risk of adverse outcomes, with adjusted hazard ratios of 0.8 (95% CI: 0.05–0.19) at one month and 0.21 (95% CI: 0.13–0.34) at six months. Sensitivity and specificity were 16.1% and 25.4%, respectively, at one month and 24.6% and 36.4% at six months. Conclusion: The HALP score at admission significantly predicts mortality and recurrent stroke within the first six months post-AIS, supporting its integration into initial assessment protocols.