Combining C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and serum albumin to predict long-term mortality in patients with infective endocarditis

Abstract

Abstract Aims To determine the predictive value of C-reactive protein plus albumin plus procalcitonin (PCT) for long-term mortality in patients with infective endocarditis (IE). Methods The current study included 261 IE patients between February 2008 and 31 December 2021. CRP, PCT, and albumin levels were measured within 24 hours of admission. A CRP plus PCT plus albumin points (2–6) was assigned based on the CRP, PCT, and albumin concentrations. The outcome was defined as an all-cause mortality rate at long-term follow-up. The patients were divided into two groups; survivors (n = 112), and non-survivors (n = 149). Results The patients in the non-survivors group had higher PCT [5.4 (0.7–19.9) vs 1.1 (0.2–9.1), p = 0.020], and CRP [131 (73.5–187) vs 84.5 (45-138.5), p = 0.010] compared with the patients in the survivors’ group. However, the albumin level was lower in the non-survivors (3.1 ± 0.6 vs 3.5 ± 0.6, p = 0.015). In the multivariate analysis, CRP plus PCT plus albumin points (the patients’ risk groups) was an independent predictor of long-term mortality in IE patients ( each p < 0.05).