Can Neutrophil/lymphocyte Ratio, C-reactive protein (CRP) and Procalcitonin predict the hospitalization time in patients with lower tract respiratory infections ?

Abstract

Aim: At hospital admission some inflammatory markers like C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Procalcitonin (PCT) and Neutrophil/ Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) were studied on patient mortality and hospitalization time in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and COPD exacerbations. In this study, we investigated the predictor role of CRP, PCT and NLR on the hospitalization time in patients with Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (LRTI) in a chest diseases clinic.

Methods: In this observational, cross-sectional and retrospective study, we evaluated the patients who were hospitalized in our chest disease clinic between 2016 and 2018. We included 1153 patients who were diagnosed with pneumonia, COPD exacerbation, exacerbation of bronchiectasis, acute bronchitis, parapneumonic effusion, and empyema according to ICD-10 criteria.

Results: Median hospitalization time was 7 (Interquartile Range, IQR:5-11). Median NLR was 6.45 (IQR:3.78-11.71), median CRP number was 88 mg/L (IQR:27.9-185.6 mg/L), and median PCT number was 0.26 ng/ml (IQR:0.09-0.61ng/ml). 587 patients have NLR≥6.45 and median hospitalization time was 8( IQR:6-11) days. 566 patients have NLR<6.45 and hospitalization time was 7 (IQR:5-10) days. There was a significant difference between two groups (p<0.001). 580 patients have CRP>=88mg/L and median hospitalization time was 8(IQR:6-12) days. 573 patients have CRP<88 mg/L and hospitalization time was 6(IQR:4-9) days. There was a significant difference between the two groups (p<0.001).

Conclusion: We found that CRP and NLR were significant to predict hospitalization time in the patients with LRTI in the chest clinic.