The improved prediction value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio to pneumonia severity scores for mortality in the older people with community-acquired pneumonia

Abstract Objective We aimed to evaluate whether there is a linear relationship between neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and adverse outcomes in the older hospitalised patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The performance of adding NLR to current pneumonia severity scores, including C...

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Main Authors: Lixue Huang, Bingxuan Weng, Mengyuan Wang, Jianzhen Weng, Xiaoman Du, Yang Ju, Xuefeng Zhong, Xunliang Tong, Yanming Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Geriatrics
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06121-2
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author Lixue Huang
Bingxuan Weng
Mengyuan Wang
Jianzhen Weng
Xiaoman Du
Yang Ju
Xuefeng Zhong
Xunliang Tong
Yanming Li
author_facet Lixue Huang
Bingxuan Weng
Mengyuan Wang
Jianzhen Weng
Xiaoman Du
Yang Ju
Xuefeng Zhong
Xunliang Tong
Yanming Li
author_sort Lixue Huang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective We aimed to evaluate whether there is a linear relationship between neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and adverse outcomes in the older hospitalised patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The performance of adding NLR to current pneumonia severity scores, including CURB-65, CRB-65, A-DROP and SMART-COP, in predicting 30-day mortality was also investigated. Methods This is a secondary analysis based on an existing dataset of an older cohort of CAP, including 812 patients. Clinical and laboratory results on admission were used to calculate the above scores. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Baseline characteristics and outcomes were presented grouped by quartile of NLR. Multivariable adjusted logistic regression and restricted cubic spline were used to evaluate the association between NLR and 30-day mortality. Updated systems were developed after adding NLR to the above four scoring systems. Model discrimination was evaluated by the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs). Results Compared with the lowest quartile NLR group, the higher quartile NLR group had an increased risk of 30-day mortality, with a rate of 18.3% (37/202) in the highest quartile. A significant association of NLR with 30-day mortality was found with an odds ratio of 1.017 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.002–1.032]), but did not persist after adjustment for age, sex, and comorbidities. A non-linear positive association was observed for NLR with 30-day mortality, with an accelerating mortality rate up to 16 of NLR. The optimal cut-off value of NLR for predicting 30-day mortality was 6.5, which was used to update the scoring systems by adding NLR. The AUCs after updating in the four systems were all significantly improved (all p < 0.05), with the highest AUC of 0.847 (95%CI 0.804–0.891) in SMARTCOP-NLR and the lowest AUC of 0.804 (95% CI 0.752–0.855) in CRB65-NLR. Conclusions There was a non-linear association between NLR and 30-day mortality in older patients with CAP. The addition of NLR to the conventional scoring systems significantly increased their discrimination.
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spelling doaj-art-1ba9d90cef094e9eaf2e940dca255d352025-08-20T04:01:40ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182025-07-012511910.1186/s12877-025-06121-2The improved prediction value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio to pneumonia severity scores for mortality in the older people with community-acquired pneumoniaLixue Huang0Bingxuan Weng1Mengyuan Wang2Jianzhen Weng3Xiaoman Du4Yang Ju5Xuefeng Zhong6Xunliang Tong7Yanming Li8Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencePeking University Fifth School of Clinical MedicineDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical ScienceDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical ScienceDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical ScienceDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical ScienceDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical ScienceDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical ScienceDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical ScienceAbstract Objective We aimed to evaluate whether there is a linear relationship between neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and adverse outcomes in the older hospitalised patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The performance of adding NLR to current pneumonia severity scores, including CURB-65, CRB-65, A-DROP and SMART-COP, in predicting 30-day mortality was also investigated. Methods This is a secondary analysis based on an existing dataset of an older cohort of CAP, including 812 patients. Clinical and laboratory results on admission were used to calculate the above scores. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Baseline characteristics and outcomes were presented grouped by quartile of NLR. Multivariable adjusted logistic regression and restricted cubic spline were used to evaluate the association between NLR and 30-day mortality. Updated systems were developed after adding NLR to the above four scoring systems. Model discrimination was evaluated by the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs). Results Compared with the lowest quartile NLR group, the higher quartile NLR group had an increased risk of 30-day mortality, with a rate of 18.3% (37/202) in the highest quartile. A significant association of NLR with 30-day mortality was found with an odds ratio of 1.017 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.002–1.032]), but did not persist after adjustment for age, sex, and comorbidities. A non-linear positive association was observed for NLR with 30-day mortality, with an accelerating mortality rate up to 16 of NLR. The optimal cut-off value of NLR for predicting 30-day mortality was 6.5, which was used to update the scoring systems by adding NLR. The AUCs after updating in the four systems were all significantly improved (all p < 0.05), with the highest AUC of 0.847 (95%CI 0.804–0.891) in SMARTCOP-NLR and the lowest AUC of 0.804 (95% CI 0.752–0.855) in CRB65-NLR. Conclusions There was a non-linear association between NLR and 30-day mortality in older patients with CAP. The addition of NLR to the conventional scoring systems significantly increased their discrimination.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06121-2NLRCommunity-acquired pneumoniaOlderMortality
spellingShingle Lixue Huang
Bingxuan Weng
Mengyuan Wang
Jianzhen Weng
Xiaoman Du
Yang Ju
Xuefeng Zhong
Xunliang Tong
Yanming Li
The improved prediction value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio to pneumonia severity scores for mortality in the older people with community-acquired pneumonia
BMC Geriatrics
NLR
Community-acquired pneumonia
Older
Mortality
title The improved prediction value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio to pneumonia severity scores for mortality in the older people with community-acquired pneumonia
title_full The improved prediction value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio to pneumonia severity scores for mortality in the older people with community-acquired pneumonia
title_fullStr The improved prediction value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio to pneumonia severity scores for mortality in the older people with community-acquired pneumonia
title_full_unstemmed The improved prediction value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio to pneumonia severity scores for mortality in the older people with community-acquired pneumonia
title_short The improved prediction value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio to pneumonia severity scores for mortality in the older people with community-acquired pneumonia
title_sort improved prediction value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio to pneumonia severity scores for mortality in the older people with community acquired pneumonia
topic NLR
Community-acquired pneumonia
Older
Mortality
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06121-2
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