Diagnostic Efficiency of Inflammatory Prognostic Index on Pain Scoring for Degenerated Intervertebral Disc

Abstract

Introduction: Inflammatory Prognostic Index (IPI), calculated via Albumin, CRP, and Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), is used in inflammation-related diseases. The study focused on the efficacy and predictive effect of the IPI in terms of Visual Analog Scales (VAS) for interpretation of back and leg pain. Materials and Methods: This multicenter retrospective clinical study was performed by the hospital records of the DIVD patients treated between January 2020 and February 2022. IPI value was calculated by the formula of “CRPxNLR/Albumin”. Results: There was a significant difference between VAS-B (2.38±1.74; p=0.0001) and VAS-L (7.09±1.44; p=0.00017) in the comparison of paired VAS values before and after the surgery. A similar change occurred within walking distance after surgery. According to the correlation analysis of the IPI index with DIVD pain scoring, VAS-B(r=0,391; p=0,00017) and delta VAS-B (r=0,422; p=0,00004) showed a positive correlation with the IPI. In the ROC analysis for the diagnostic value of the IPI, the cut-off value of VAS-L above 0.184 showed a diagnostic value as 78.9% sensitivity and 64.3% specificity [UAC:0.702; p:0.003; CI%95: 0.581-0.815). Conclusion: We showed a strong relationship between IPI and pain scoring of DIVD. The diagnostic value of IPI with VAS-L was very important and can be used by physicians for pain follow-up of DIVD.