Objective: The novel biomarker, neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR), as a prognostic tool for inflammation in relation to all-cause mortality for patients afflicted by strokes has yet to be explored.
Methods: Data sets associated with patient files stored within the MIMIC-III V1.4 database were obtained. Data files from 940-patients were obtained for this retrospective analysis. Clinical endpoints were determined to represent a month (30-), three months (90-) and year (365-) all-cause mortality in stroke patients were determined. In order to determine NPAR and clinical endpoint relationships, Cox proportional hazards models were utilized.
Results: For all-cause mortality within a 30-day period, in an unadjusted model, the HR (95% CIs) in group B (NPAR 20.5– 25.0) and C (NPAR > 25.0) was 1.17 (0.85, 1.63) and 1.55 (1.13, 2.11) compared with group A (NPAR < 20.5). Proceeding adjustment for more confounding factors, higher NPAR still obtained significant predictive power for 30-day all-cause mortality (HR= 1.45, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.00). Statistical significance (P = 0.0196) was also observed for the other time-based subgroupings for all-cause mortality.
Conclusion: A strong correlation was present between increased levels of the novel biomarker NPAR and increased risk of mortality in stroke patients.
Keywords: neutrophil-albumin ratio, mortality, stroke, biomarker