The value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in assessing the severity and prognosis of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in assessing disease severity, predicting respiratory failure, and estimating hospital length of stay in patients experiencing acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). The study compared NLR with other inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell count (WBC). This was a prospective descriptive study involving 217 hospitalized AECOPD patients at Ha Tinh General Hospital from August 2024 to February 2025. NLR, CRP, and WBC levels were recorded within the first 24 hours of admission. The results showed that NLR had a moderate positive correlation with CRP (r = 0.45; p < 0.001) and increased severity with exacerbations. NLR was significantly higher in patients who experienced respiratory failure (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified NLR as the only independent predictor of respiratory failure (odds ratio [OR] = 3.23; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.79 - 5.83; p < 0.001), while CRP and WBC did not show significant predictive value. NLR also had the highest area under the curve (AUC = 0.68) for predicting respiratory failure and demonstrated a better predictive value for prolonged hospitalization (AUC = 0.59) than CRP and WBC. In conclusion, NLR is a simple and accessible inflammatory marker with excellent prognostic value than CRP and WBC in AECOPD cases, especially in clinical settings with limited resources.
Article Details
Keywords
AECOPD, Neutrophil, Lymphocyte, NLR, CRP, WBC
References
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