Prognostic values of neutrophilic count and neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients admitted with acute exacerbation

Abstract

Introduction Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic inflammatory pathway with neutrophils and lymphocytes representing the main cells of inflammation. Patients and methods A prospective study was designed to assess the neutrophilic count as well as neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as predictors of mortality among patients admitted in the hospital with acute exacerbation COPD. Fifty COPD patients were admitted to Ain Shams Hospital complaining of acute exacerbation. They were followed up during their course inside the hospital with routine blood tests assessment. Results From the 50 patients admitted, eight patients died along their in-hospital course. No differences regarding their ages and sex. Total leucocytic count (TLC), neutrophilic count, lymphocytes, and NLR were found to be significantly higher in the nonsurvival versus the survival groups. Mean C-reactive protein values showed no significant difference between both the subgroups. The nonsurvival group tend to stay more days in the respiratory care unit in comparison to the survival group. Conclusion The neutrophilic count and the NLR were strongly valuable inflammatory markers with reported higher sensitivity and specificity in predicting the mortality among COPD patients admitted for acute exacerbation.

Keywords

• acute exacerbation chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• C-reactive protein
• neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio