Validity of the mean platelet volume and Revised Clinical Risk Index for Babies (CRIB-II) score to assess mortality risk in preterm infants

This study aimed to investigate the validity of the mean platelet volume (MPV) alone and MPV combined with the revised Clinical Risk Index for Babies (CRIB II) score to predict neonatal mortality in preterm infants. This retrospective observational study performed between May 2018 and June 2021 included preterm neonates (gestational age 23–32 weeks) admitted to a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) within 12 hours of birth, who were followed up until death or discharge. MPV was recorded at admission and within 72 hours before death or discharge. The CRIB II score variables were assessed within 12 hours of birth, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was calculated for the MPV and CRIB II scores to predict neonatal mortality. We investigated 404 newborns, of whom 28 (6.9%) died. The mean neonatal gestational age was 28.6±2.8 weeks. The MPV was significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors (p=0.001). The AUC for the MPV and the CRIB II score was 0.68 (95% CI: 0.55–0.80) and 0.85 (95% CI: 0.79–0.91), respectively. The AUC for the MPV combined with the CRIB II score was 0.91 (95% CI 0.87–0.95). The difference in MPV at birth between survivors and non-survivors was statistically non-significant. MPV was found to be a poorer predictor of neonatal mortality than the CRIB II score; however, MPV combined with the CRIB II score demonstrated significantly improved predictive ability for preterm infant mortality risk.