Inflammatory indexes predict mortality in non-malignant patients in palliative care.

Background: The literature on the use of inflammatory indexes for palliative care patients without malignancy is scarce.

Aims: To determine which inflammatory indexes are associated with the mortality risks of non-malignant patients hospitalised and receiving palliative care.

Methods: Discharged or deceased patients in a palliative care unit of a secondary care hospital were included. The laboratory values were obtained during the first 48 hours of hospitalisation.

Findings: As a result of univariate Cox regression analysis, 14-day mortality rate was affected by lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil-to-albumin ratio (NAR), C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR), multi-inflammatory indexes (MII-1) and MII-2 (p<0.001, p=0.001, p=0.002, p=0.009 and p=0.003, respectively); NLR, CLR, NAR, CAR, MII-1 and MII-2 (respectively p=0.005, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.001 and p<0.001) affected 28-day mortality rate. Indexes that statistically significantly increased both 14-day and 28-day mortality rates independently of other variables were CLR, NAR, CAR, MII-1 and MII-2.

Conclusion: High values in inflammatory indexes, including C-reactive protein and albumin increase the risk of 14-day and 28-day mortality rates in palliative care non-malignant patients.