C-reactive Protein/albumin Ratio Research Articles

Advantage of post-operative inflammatory status after laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy.

Introduction Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) is a safe and effective procedure; however, its impact on perioperative inflammatory reactions compared with open distal pancreatectomy (ODP) remains unclear. This study aimed to assess short-term outcomes following LDP and ODP regarding inflammatory reactions. Methods This retrospective study of 77 consecutive patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy for low-grade malignancies between 2005 and 2022 compared white blood cell (WBC) count, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, serum albumin level, and CRP/albumin ratio (CAR) between LDP and ODP. Complications, especially postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF), recovery program, and hospital stay period were also compared. Results POPF (17.1% vs. 38.7%, p = 0.039) and surgical morbidity (≥Clavien-Dindo Grade III, 12.2% vs. 32.3%, p = 0.038) were significantly lower in LDP than in ODP, as for the difference in postoperative inflammatory response, including CRP and CAR, was just temporary. By multivariate analysis, CAR≥6.94 on POD 3 was significant predictor of POPF (42.1% vs. 13.2%, Odds ratio 4.828, p=0.030) Conclusion LDP has lower POPF and earlier postoperative recovery. CAR could be a predictor of POPF.

C-reactive protein/albumin ratio versus lactate/albumin ratio as an outcome predictor for patients with sepsis and septic shock in hospital stay

Background & Objective: Pre-emptively identifying individuals at risk of developing sepsis and septic shock remains challenging. In septic patients, the Lactate/Albumin Ratio (LAR) and C-reactive protein (CRP)/Albumin ratio (CAR) have been suggested to be promising prognostic indicators for prediction of intensive care unit (ICU) mortality. We compared the prognostic values of CAR and LAR in patients with sepsis and septic shock. Methodology: Eighty adult patients diagnosed with sepsis and admitted to the ICUs of Ain Shams University Hospitals, were included in this observational prospective study. CRP levels, serum lactate, serum albumin, complete blood count (CBC), procalcitonin levels, and SOFA scores were assessed upon admission, with subsequently observing 28-day mortality among the selected patients. Results: CAR values were comparable between the mortality and survival groups (P = 0.807). However, LAR values were significantly elevated in the mortality group vs the survival group (P = 0.044). ROC analysis for mortality indicated that LAR had an AUC of 0.633 at a cutoff value > 0.68, achieving sensitivity and specificity of 89.4% and 21.2%, respectively. In contrast, CAR had an AUC of 0.484 at a cutoff value ≥ 1.54, with sensitivity and specificity values of 63.8% and 57.6%, respectively. Length of ICU stay (P < 0.001), duration of mechanical ventilation (P < 0.001), cardiovascular support (P < 0.001) and the need for renal replacement therapy (P < 0. 039), were increased in the mortality group compared to the survival group. Conclusion: Lactate/albumin ratio is superior and more reliable bio-marker predictor compared to C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin ratio for ICU mortality. Abbreviations: CAR - C-reactive protein/albumin ratio; CRP - C-reactive protein; ICU - intensive care unit; LAR - Lactate/Albumin Ratio; Keywords: Albumin; CRP To Albumin Ratio; Lactate; Lactate to Albumin Ratio; Mortality; Sepsis; Septic Shock; SOFA; Survival Citation: Abdou K, Mounir M, Abdelmohsen S, Salem S, Ali A. C-reactive protein/albumin ratio versus lactate/albumin ratio as an outcome predictor for patients with sepsis and septic shock in hospital stay. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2023;28(5):901−907; DOI: 10.35975/apic.v27i5.2571 Received: July 29, 2024; Reviewed: August 23, 2024; Accepted: August 28, 2024

Association Between Serum Levels of Vitamin D and Biochemical Markers Among Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Candidates: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Although vitamin D has been known as an effective substance in bone homeostasis, recent studies indicated a number of other biological properties attributed to vitamin D. Patients, who are candidates for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), were shown to be at high risk of vitamin D deficiency. Objectives: This study aimed at exploring the association between serum levels of vitamin D and biochemical markers among HSCT candidates. Methods: Totally, 214 patients, aged 18 to 65 years, were recruited in the current cross-sectional study. Within 24 hours of admission to the Bone Marrow Transplant ward, baseline clinical and demographic characteristics of study participants, serum levels of vitamin D, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), hemoglobin, albumin, total protein, CRP-albumin ratio (CAR), and body mass index (BMI) were assessed. Participants were divided into 4 groups based on their serum vitamin D levels: subjects with deficient, insufficient, sufficient, and optimal levels of vitamin D. Results: Across the 4 defined categories of serum vitamin D levels, there was no significant difference in terms of BMI, laboratory parameters, inflammatory factors, and biochemical markers. This lack of significant variation remained in both unadjusted and adjusted models. Conclusions: These observations indicate a lack of significant association between serum vitamin D levels and BMI, inflammatory factors, and biochemical markers in individuals undergoing evaluation for HSTC.

C reactive protein albumin ratio as a new predictor of postoperative delirium after cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis

Postoperative delirium (POD) is one of the most common complications of surgery. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for POD in patients undergoing cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. This retrospective study included 77 patients who underwent cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis between January 2015, and December 2020. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with the development of delirium as the primary endpoint. Patients were divided into POD (n = 18) and non-POD (n = 59) groups and their demographic features and clinical results were compared. A significant model associated with delirium onset was predicted (Nagelkerke’s R2 = 0.382), and the significantly correlated factors were C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR), Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) score, and history of psychiatric disease. The predictive value of CAR for POD was evaluated using ROC analysis; the area under the curve of CAR was 0.731, with a cutoff value of 3.69. CAR, SGA score, and a history of psychiatric disease were identified as factors associated with the development of POD in patients with acute cholecystitis. In particular, the new preoperative evaluation of CAR may be beneficial as an assessment measure of the risk factor for the development of POD.

The role of new inflammatory indices in the prediction of endoscopic and histological activity in inflammatory bowel disease patients.

Inflammatory indices are promising indicators that can be used to evaluate inflammation in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). The present study aimed to investigate the test accuracy of several inflammatory indices to identify endoscopic, and histological activity in a cohort of IBD patients. All IBD patients who underwent colonoscopy and blood examination (within 4 weeks and without therapeutic change) were included. For these patients, 10 different inflammatory biomarkers were collected. Our primary outcome was the assessment of accuracy [evaluated with a receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis] of each inflammatory biomarker and indices. Furthermore, we tried to establish the optimal cutoff to identify patients with endoscopic and histologic activity among the inflammatory biomarkers and indices with higher performance. Regarding endoscopic activity, at the ROC analysis, the systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) showed the best accuracy [area under the curve (AUC), 0.627; confidence interval (CI), 0.552-0.698]. Whereas the ROC analysis showed a suboptimal AUC for the neutrophil-to-lymphocytes ratio (NLR) and platelets-to-lymphocytes ratio; (AUC, 0.620; CI, 0.545-0.691 and AUC, 0.607; CI, 0.532-0.679, respectively). Concerning histological activity, the C-reactive protein albumin ratio (CAR) presented a higher accuracy among the calculated inflammatory biomarkers (AUC, 0.682; CI, 0.569-0.781) while SIRI and NLR presented a subdued diagnostic performance. SIRI and CAR presented the best test accuracy in an IBD outpatient setting to identify endoscopic and histological activity. However, the test accuracy of all the evaluated Inflammatory indices appeared suboptimal. Fecal calprotectin has still the highest accuracy in predicting endoscopic and histological activity in patients with IBD.

Machine learning to identify precachexia and cachexia: a multicenter, retrospective cohort study

BackgroundDetection of precachexia is important for the prevention and treatment of cachexia. However, how to identify precachexia is still a challenge.ObjectiveThis study aimed to detect cancer precachexia using a simple method and distinguish the different characteristics of precachexia and cachexia.MethodsWe included 3896 participants in this study. We used all baseline characteristics as input variables and trained machine learning (ML) models to calculate the importance of the variables. After filtering the variables based on their importance, the models were retrained. The best model was selected based on the receiver operating characteristic value. Subsequently, we used the same method and process to identify patients with precachexia in a noncachexia population using the same method and process.ResultsParticipants in this study included 2228 men (57.2%) and 1668 women (42.8%), of whom 471 were diagnosed with precachexia, 1178 with cachexia, and the remainder with noncachexia. The most important characteristics of cachexia were eating changes, arm circumference, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level, and C-reactive protein albumin ratio (CAR). The most important features distinguishing precachexia were eating changes, serum creatinine, HDL, handgrip strength, and CAR. The two logistic regression models for screening for cachexia and diagnosing precachexia had the highest area under the curve values of 0.830 and 0.701, respectively. Calibration and decision curves showed that the models had good accuracy.ConclusionWe developed two models for identifying precachexia and cachexia, which will help clinicians detect and diagnose precachexia.

Relationship between trigeminal neuralgia and the C-reactive protein/albumin ratio

Objectives: This study aimed to assess whether the C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR) is a risk factor for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) development and the relationship between the CAR and TN pain frequency. Patients and methods: In this retrospective study, 100 patients (51 females, 49 males; mean age: 58.6±14.1 years; range, 31 to 88 years) with idiopathic TN and 70 healthy controls (38 females, 32 males; mean age: 54.1±15.7 years; range, 21 to 89 years) were included between January 2020 and December 2022. Patients were divided into two groups by weekly and monthly pain frequency. The laboratory findings and CARs were compared. Results: The CAR values were significantly different between the patient and control groups (p<0.05) and were significantly different among TN subgroups divided according to attack frequency (p<0.05). Conclusion: Since there was a significant relationship between TN and CAR as a prognostic predictor, this relationship demonstrated once again that inflammation plays a role in the etiopathogenesis of TN. As opposed to previous studies that investigated the effect of only inflammation, the effects of both inflammation and malnutrition could be investigated by evaluating CAR in this study.

The inflammatory markers and locoregional pathological results both have an impact on the prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma in patients who have undergone neck dissection

BackgroundLocoregional surgical pathology, with surgical margins at the primary site and lymph node (LN) metastasis, particularly extranodal extension (ENE), plays an important role in the prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In addition, systemic inflammatory response and nutritional status are associated with poor prognosis. PurposeThis study aimed to comprehensively assess the effect of inflammatory markers and locoregional factors on the prognosis of patients with OSCC who underwent neck dissection (ND). MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included patients who had undergone ND for OSCC between 2013 and 2021. The primary predictive variables were the weighted lymph node ratio (WLNR) and inflammatory markers. Primary outcome variables were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). ResultsAmong 153 patients (99 males, 54 females), 55 (35.9 %) had LN metastasis and 11 (7.2 %) exhibited ENE. The inflammatory markers lymphocyte/monocyte ratio (LMR), monocyte/albumin ratio (MAR), C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR), and WLNR demonstrated significant cut-off values for survival, with values of 4.805, 104.72, 0.041, and 0.0235, respectively. The Cox proportional hazards model revealed significant differences in age, WLNR, LMR, MAR, CAR, and vascular, lymphatic, and perineural invasion (Pn). Multivariate analysis indicated that the hazard ratios (95 % confidence intervals) for WLNR (3.416; 1.542–7.566), MAR (2.404; 1.254–4.607), and Pn (2.516; 1.291–4.905) were independent variables for OS. ConclusionsIn patients with OSCC who underwent ND, the inflammatory marker MAR and locoregional factors WLNR and Pn were simultaneously identified as prognostic factors.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Prognostic Nutritional Index Are Predictors for Overall Survival after Primary Pancreatic Resection of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Single Centre Evaluation.

Prognostic inflammation-based parameters have been reported as useful tools in various oncologic diseases. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by a high mortality rate, making reliable prognostic markers highly desirable. However, there is still inconsistency in the literature regarding the efficacy of the different available scores. A total of 207 patients, who underwent primary resection of PDAC from January 2000 to December 2018 at the University Hospital of Erlangen, were included in this retrospective single-center study. Different biomarkers, including the preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), the c-reactive protein (CRP)-albumin ratio (CAR), the lymphocyte-CRP ratio (LCR), the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and the modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS) were analyzed for their ability to predict overall survival (OS). In our cohort, the median overall survival was 20.7 months. Among the investigated biomarkers, NLR and PNI were identified as independent prognostic markers (Hazard Ratio (HR) 1.6 (1.0-2.5), p = 0.048 and HR 0.6 (0.4-0.9), p = 0.018), whereas PLR, CAR, LCR and mGPS did not reach significance in the multivariate analysis. Subgroup analysis revealed that the prognostic value of NLR and PNI is particularly evident in locally advanced tumor stages (pT3/4 and pN+). The NLR and PNI could serve as valuable tools for estimating prognosis in patients with PDAC undergoing pancreatic resection in curative intention, especially in locally advanced tumor stages. However, conflicting results in the current literature highlight the need for further prospective studies to validate these findings.

Increased Serum CRP-Albumin Ratio is Independently Associated With In-Stent Restenosis After Carotid Artery Stenting.

Atherosclerotic stenosis of the carotid artery contributes significantly to ischemic strokes. This study investigates the correlation between the C-reactive protein (CRP) to albumin ratio (CAR) and in-stent restenosis (ISR) in patients (n = 529) undergoing carotid artery stenting. Patients were categorized based on ISR occurrence. Cox regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of ISR. The ISR rate was 10.3%. Laboratory analysis revealed higher levels of uric acid, CRP, and CAR in the ISR group. Cox regression identified CAR as an independent predictor of ISR (Hazard ratio (HR): 1.13, 95% CI: 1.03-1.24, P = .01), along with diabetes and smoking. A CAR cut-off of 0.28 predicted ISR with 93% sensitivity and 89% specificity (Area under the curve (AUC): 0.945, 95% CI: 0.923-0.963, P < .001). This study establishes a significant association between CAR and ISR in carotid artery stenting patients. The inflammatory response, indicated by CAR, emerges as a crucial factor in ISR development. The study contributes valuable insights into predicting and preventing ISR, emphasizing the potential of CAR as a prognostic biomarker. This easily accessible and cost-effective biomarker could enhance ISR prediction and guide preventive strategies for high-risk patients.

Predictive Ability of Inflammatory Markers on In-Hospital Outcomes in Patients Admitted to Coronary Care Unit (MORCOR-TURK INFLAME).

We investigated the prognostic implications of the systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and triglyceride/glucose index (TGI) in the MORtality predictors in the CORonary Care Units in TURKey (MORCOR-TURK) population. This is the largest registry of coronary care unit (CCU) patients in Turkey (3157 patients admitted to CCU in 50 different centers). The study population was divided into two according to in-hospital survival status; 137 patients (4.3%) died in-hospital follow-up. A significant correlation was found between death and SII, CAR, NLR, and PNI but not for AIP and TGI in logistic regression. In Model 1 (combining parameters proven to be risk predictors), the -2 log-likelihood ratio was 888.439, Nagelkerke R2 was 0.235, and AUC (area under curve) was 0.814 (95% CI: 0.771-0.858). All other models were constructed by adding each inflammatory marker separately to Model 1. Only Model 3 (CAR + Model 1) had a significantly greater AUC than Model 1 (DeLong P = .01). Our study showed that CAR, but not other inflammatory index, is a significant predictor of in-hospital mortality in CCU patients when added to proven risk predictors.

The prevalence and prognostic value of systemic inflammation in good performance status patients with advanced, inoperable non-small cell lung cancer receiving palliative radiotherapy: Comparison of composite ratios and cumulative scores.

The present study sought to examine the relationships between systemic inflammatory composite ratios/cumulative scores, magnitude of systemic inflammatory response (SIR) and survival in good performance status patients (ECOG-PS 0/1) with advanced NSCLC receiving palliative radiotherapy. Systemic inflammatory composite ratios/cumulative scores included the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), C-reactive protein, (CRP)-albumin ratio (CAR), neutrophil- lymphocyte score (NLS), platelet-lymphocyte score (PLS), lymphocyte-monocyte score (LMS), neutrophil-platelet score (NPS), modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS). The magnitude of SIR was determined by serum CRP concentration, with a median CRP concentration of >10 m mg/L considered to be systemically inflamed. Relationships between systemic inflammatory composite ratios/ cumulative scores and clinicopathological characteristics were examined using chi-square analysis. Relationships between overall survival (OS) and systemic inflammatory composite ratios/ cumulative scores were examined using cox regression analysis. 479 patients were included. 48% (n = 231) of patients were male and 70% (n = 338) were ≥65 years of age. 29% (n = 140) patients were ECOG-PS 0 and 71% (n = 339) were ECOG-PS 1. 98% (n = 469) of patients died during follow-up. The median survival was 5 months (2-11). A similar prevalence of systemic inflammation was noted across the various ratios/scores (NLR >3 68%; LMR <2.4 65%; PLR >150 70%; CAR >0.20 83%; NLS ≥1 66%; LMS ≥1 71%; NPS≥1 50%; PLS≥1 60% and mGPS≥1 75%). Despite not considered to be systemically inflamed, an NLR <3, LMR ≥2.4, PLR ≤150, NLS 0, LMS 0, NPS 0 and PLS 0 all had a median CRP concentration of >10 mg/L. When adjusted for ECOG-PS, CAR>0.40 (p < 0.001) and mGPS 2 (p < 0.05) remained significantly associated with OS. Liver-based measures of systemic inflammation (CAR and mGPS) appear more reliable for the quantification of the magnitude of SIR and have prognostic value in patients with advanced NSCLC.

The association of nutritional and inflammatory biomarkers with overall survival in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Pretreatment biomarkers are needed to identify patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) likely to have worse survival. This ensures that only patients with a real chance of benefit receive immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment. In this study, we examined the associations of baseline nutritional and inflammatory biomarkers with overall survival in a real-world cohort of NSCLC patients who received ICIs. We used prospectively collected data from the OncoLifeS data biobank. The cohort included 500 advanced-stage NSCLC patients treated with ICIs from May 2015 to June 2021. Biomarkers were evaluated within 2 weeks before ICI treatment: neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein (CRP), Glasgow prognostic score, CRP/albumin ratio (CAR), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and advanced lung cancer inflammation index. For each biomarker, low- and high-risk groups were defined using literature-based cut-offs. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated using adjusted survival analysis. Most patients were male (60.8%), the mean baseline age was 65 ± 9 years, and 88% had stage IV disease. For each biomarker, low-risk patients had better overall survival (all, p < 0.001), with CAR and PNI showing the strongest associations. In multivariable analyses a combined CAR/PNI risk score had a stronger association with overall survival (aHR 3.09, 95% CI 2.36-4.06) than CAR alone (aHR 2.22, 95% CI 1.79-2.76) or PNI alone (aHR 2.09, 95% CI 1.66-2.61). These results highlight the potential value of nutritional and inflammatory biomarkers, in particular CAR and PNI, in identifying NSCLC patients with highest mortality risk before starting ICI treatment.

Inflammatory indexes predict mortality in non-malignant patients in palliative care.

The literature on the use of inflammatory indexes for palliative care patients without malignancy is scarce. To determine which inflammatory indexes are associated with the mortality risks of non-malignant patients hospitalised and receiving palliative care. Discharged or deceased patients in a palliative care unit of a secondary care hospital were included. The laboratory values were obtained during the first 48 hours of hospitalisation. As a result of univariate Cox regression analysis, 14-day mortality rate was affected by lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil-to-albumin ratio (NAR), C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR), multi-inflammatory indexes (MII-1) and MII-2 (p<0.001, p=0.001, p=0.002, p=0.009 and p=0.003, respectively); NLR, CLR, NAR, CAR, MII-1 and MII-2 (respectively p=0.005, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.001 and p<0.001) affected 28-day mortality rate. Indexes that statistically significantly increased both 14-day and 28-day mortality rates independently of other variables were CLR, NAR, CAR, MII-1 and MII-2. High values in inflammatory indexes, including C-reactive protein and albumin increase the risk of 14-day and 28-day mortality rates in palliative care non-malignant patients.

Prognostic significance of C-reactive protein/albumin and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios in patients with COVID-19

Introduction and aim. COVID-19 causes an uncontrolled and generalized inflammatory response of the host immune system. Early recognition of the disease and early prediction of the clinical course are of great importance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive role of the C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR) and the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for mortality in patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of COVID-19. Material and methods. The patients, who were hospitalized for COVID-19 and whose CRP, albumin, neutrophil, and lymphocyte levels were documented within the first 24 hours after admission, were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into survivors and non-survivors; the groups were compared. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were developed to evaluate the CAR and the NLR as risk factors for mortality in COVID-19 patients. Results. One hundred and thirty patients were included in this study. The mean age of the survivor group (n=114) was 60±16 and 52% were male. The mean age of the non-survivor group (n=16) was 75±13 and 56% were male. In the non-survivor group, the CAR detected at the time of admission to the hospital was significantly higher compared to patients in the survivor group (p=0.026). Conclusion. As a result, the CAR, the NLR and LDH are independent risk factor indicators of mortality in hospitalized patients

Prognostic risk stratification using C-reactive protein, albumin, and associated inflammatory biomarkers in patients with advanced cancer in palliative care

PurposeTo evaluate the prognostic value of C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, CRP/albumin ratio (CAR), and modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) at different thresholds in patients with advanced cancer in palliative care. MethodsProspective cohort study with patients evaluated at a palliative care unit in Brazil between July 2016 and March 2020. We included patients ≥ 20 years old, both sexes, able to provide the necessary information or accompanied by someone able to do so, and Karnofsky Performance Status ≥ 30 %. The exclusion criteria were the absence of laboratory data and previous diagnosis of autoimmune and infectious diseases. The thresholds analyzed were: CRP < 5 vs. 5-10 vs. > 10 mg/L, albumin < 2.4 vs. 2.4-2.9 vs. 3.0-3.5 vs. > 3.5 g/dL; CAR <1.2 vs. 1.2–2.0 vs. > 2.0, and mGPS equal to 0 vs. 1 vs. 2. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models (with hazard ratios [HR] and 95% confidence interval [CI]) were used to evaluate prognostic value, and the concordance statistic (C-statistic) was used to evaluate the predictive accuracy of these thresholds to predict death within 90 days. ResultsA total of 1,877 patients were included. Median overall survival was 51 (19;124) days and decreased in line with the deterioration of the inflammatory biomarkers. According to the Cox regression models, HR increased as the thresholds worsened (CRP: 1.74 [95% CI, 1.50-2.02] to 2.30 [95% CI, 2.00-2.64]; albumin: 1.77 [95% CI, 1.52-2.07] to 2.60 [95% CI, 2.15-3.14]; CAR: 1.47 [95% CI, 1.21-1.77] to 2.35 [95% CI, 2.05-2.69]; mGPS: 1.78 [95% CI, 1.40-2.23] to 1.89 [95% CI, 1.65-2.15]). All the inflammatory biomarkers evaluated showed discriminatory accuracy for predicting death (C-statistic >0.70), with CAR as the best parameter (C-statistic: 0.80). ConclusionOur results suggest that CRP, albumin, CAR, and mGPS can be used as clinically meaningful biomarkers to stratify patients with advanced cancer in palliative care according to the severity of these indicators.

The predictive value of cardiovascular outcomes and mortality assessed by the C-reactive protein to albumin ratio in the UK Biobank

BackgroundThe C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR) seems to mirror disease severity and prognosis in several acute disorders particularly in elderly patients, yet less is known about if CAR is superior to C-reactive protein (CRP) in the general population.MethodsProspective study design on the UK Biobank, where serum samples of CRP and Albumin were used. Cox regression analyses were conducted to assess all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and heart failure over a follow-up period of approximately 12.5 years. The Cox model was adjusted for established cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, including age, sex, smoking habits, physical activity level, BMI level, systolic blood pressure, LDL-cholesterol, statin treatment, diabetes, and previous CVD, with hazard ratios (HRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Analyses were also stratified by sex, CRP level (< 10 and ≥ 10 mg/ml) and age (< 60 and ≥ 60 years).ResultsIn total, 411,506 individuals (186,043 men and 225,463 women) were included. In comparisons between HRs for all adverse outcomes, the results were similar or identical for CAR and CRP. For example, both CAR and CRP, adjusted HRs for all-cause mortality were 1.13 (95% CI 1.12–1.14). Regarding CVD mortality, the adjusted HR for CAR was 1.14 (95% CI 1.12–1.15), while for CRP, it was 1.13 (95% CI 1.11–1.15).ConclusionsWithin this study CAR was not superior to CRP in predictive ability of mortality or CVD disorders.Clinical trial registration numberNot applicable (cohort study).

Association of C-reactive protein/albumin ratio with mortality in patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveThis study examines the C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin ratio (CAR) as an inflammation-based prognostic score for predicting mortality in patients with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). MethodsWe systematically searched the electronic databases PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane up to February 2024. Our inclusion criteria encompassed studies investigating CAR-predicted mortality in patients with TBI. We calculated the Odds Ratio (OR) and associated 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI) using a random-effects model. Quality assessment of the included studies was appraised using a Newcastle–Ottawa scale. ResultsA total of five studies comprising 1040 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled results indicated that CAR was associated with mortality in patients with TBI (OR = 1.88, 95 % CI: 1.05–3.36, P < 0.0001). The findings of subgroup analysis indicated that the relationship between CAR and mortality in patients with TBI did not vary with the severity of the condition. ConclusionsCAR emerges as a valuable prognostic tool for mortality in patients with TBI, underscoring its potential role in early risk stratification and management strategies.

Survival Impact of Inflammation-based Prognostic Scores in Metastatic or Unresectable Esophageal Cancer Treated With Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy.

Pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy has been indicated as the first-line treatment for metastatic or unresectable locally advanced esophageal cancer. However, pretreatment biomarkers for predicting clinical outcomes remain unclear. We investigated the predictive value of inflammation-based prognostic scores in patients treated with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy. The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were calculated before initial treatment in 65 eligible patients with metastatic or unresectable locally advanced esophageal cancer receiving pembrolizumab plus CF therapy, and the relationship between these biomarkers and clinical outcomes was analyzed. The objective response rate (ORR) and progression disease (PD) were observed in 51% and 21% of all patients. Patients with PNI<39 have significantly worse treatment responses than those with PNI≥39 (ORR; 28% vs. 60%, PD; 44% vs. 13%, P =0.020). Progression-free survival (PFS) is significantly associated with the PNI and CAR ( P <0.001 and P =0.004, respectively). Overall survival (OS) is associated with PNI, CAR, and PLR ( P <0.001, P =0.008, and P =0.018, respectively). The PNI cutoff value of 39 is identified as an independent factor for PFS (odds ratio=0.27, 95% CI: 0.18-0.81, P =0.012) and OS (odds ratio=0.22, 95% CI: 0.08-0.59, P =0.003). Patients with PNI<39 have significantly worse 6-month PFS and 1-year OS than those with PNI≥39 (27.8% vs. 66.7%, 27.2% vs. 81.1%, respectively). In conclusion, inflammation-based prognostic scores are associated with survival in patients treated with pembrolizumab plus CF therapy. Pretreatment PNI is a promising candidate for predicting treatment response and survival.

The Importance of Pan-Immune Inflammation Value (PIV) in Predicting Coronary Collateral Circulation in Stable Coronary Artery Patients.

In this study, the correlation between pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV) and coronary collateral circulation (CCC) in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) was analyzed. The study included 663 patients with CCS who underwent coronary angiography and had coronary stenosis of ≥95% in at least one major coronary vessel. The participants were divided into two groups: good CCC (Rentrop score 2-3) and poor CCC (Rentrop score 0-1). PIV score was calculated as monocyte x platelet x neutrophil/lymphocyte count. When the patient groups who developed good and poor CCC were compared, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (P < .001), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, CRP/albumin ratio (CAR) (P < .001), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) (P < .001), and PIV (P < .001) were higher in patients with poor CCC. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, age, SII, NLR, CRP, CAR, and PIV were found to be independent predictors of poor CCC (P < .001, for all). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis demonstrated that a cut-off value of 442.2 for PIV predicted poor CCC slightly better compared to other markers, with 76.8% sensitivity and 70.1% specificity (area under ROC curve = 0.808 (95% CI: 0.764-0.851), P < .001). These findings suggest that PIV can be used as an independent predictor of CCC development.