Platelet indices as prognostic markers in the critically ill patient

Abstract

Platelet indices such as mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet (PLT) count, plateletcrit (PCT), and platelet distribution width (PDW) describe platelet morphology and proliferation kinetics. Our study aimed to evaluate the utility of platelet indices as prognostic markers in critically ill patients. This was an observational, descriptive study conducted on 106 critically ill adults for 24 months in the Medical Intensive Care Units of a tertiary care hospital. Analysis of the data was done using statistical software R version 3.6.0 and MS Excel. The mean age of patients was 42.3±5.8 years. Non-survivors had lower PLT count and PCT when compared to survivors. PDW and MPV were higher for non-survivors when compared to survivors. PLT count of <90,000 cells/cu mm displayed the highest sensitivity (94%), while PDW demonstrated the highest specificity (96%) in predicting mortality among critically ill patients. Abnormally low PLT count, high PDW, and high MPV values are associated with severe illness and put the patients at high risk of death as compared to patients with normal PLT indices.