Influence of systemic inflammatory indices on hospital stay and dialysis post-earthquake: A clinical study

Abstract

Natural disasters pose significant challenges to medical response due to the surge of patients and emergent injuries. Amid such scenarios, where personnel for patient monitoring might be scarce, effective biomarkers are crucial for guiding treatment plans and predicting patient prognosis. We aimed to evaluate the correlation between systemic inflammatory indices and morbidity in earth-quake-induced crush injuries. Additionally, we assessed the potential of these indices as prognostic markers for adverse outcomes. We studied 140 patients with earthquake-related crush injuries (ECR) admitted between February and March 2023 and compared them to 200 healthy controls (CG) chosen using a simple random method. Using the complete blood count data upon admission, we computed and statistically compared indices including NLR (neutrophil lymphocyte ratio), PLR (platelet lymphocyte ratio), MLR (monocyte lymphocyte ratio), SII (systemic immune-inflammatory index), SIRI (systemic inflammatory response index), and PIV (pan-immune inflammation value). Regression analyses determined the prediction of hospitalization duration and dialysis necessity. PLR and MLR upon admission significantly predicted the length of hospital stay. MLR and SIRI were significant predictors for dialysis requirement, with Exp(B) values of 0.306 (p = 0.024) and 1.261 (p = 0.038), respectively. Systemic inflammatory indices can serve as valuable prognostic tools in disaster scenarios. Utilizing these indices can enhance patient management, effectively allocate resources, and potentially save lives in the aftermath of earthquakes.