DECREASE IN THE PLATELET-TO-LYMPHOCYTE RATIO IN DAYS AFTER ADMISSION FOR SEPSIS CORRELATES WITH IN-HOSPITAL MORTALITY

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: A previous study has linked an increase in platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) to a poor prognosis; however, the relationship between early change in PLR and outcomes in sepsis patients is unclear. Methods: The Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV database was for this retrospective cohort analysis on patients meeting the Sepsis-3 criteria. All the patients meet the Sepsis-3 criteria. The platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) was calculated by dividing the platelet count by the lymphocyte count. We collected all PLR measurements that were available within 3 days of admission for analysis of longitudinal changes over time. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between the baseline PLR and in-hospital mortality. After correcting for possible confounders, the generalized additive mixed model was used to examine the trends in PLR over time among survivors and nonsurvivors. Results: Finally, 3,303 patients were enrolled, and both low and high PLR levels were significantly associated with higher in-hospital mortality in the multiple logistic regression analysis (tertile 1: odds ratio, 1.240; 95% confidence interval, 0.981–1.568 and tertile 3: odds ratio, 1.410; 95% confidence interval, 1.120–1.776, respectively). The generalized additive mixed model results revealed that the PLR of the nonsurvival group declined faster than that of the survival group within 3 days after intensive care unit admission. After controlling for confounders, the difference between the two groups steadily decreased and increased by an average of 37.38 daily. Conclusions: There was a U-shaped relationship between the baseline PLR and in-hospital mortality of sepsis patients, and there was a significant difference between the nonsurvival and survival groups in the change in PLR over time. The early decrease in PLR was related to an increase in in-hospital mortality.