# Prognostic Nutritional Index Could Serve as a Reliable Prognostic Marker in Intensive Care Population

## TL;DR

This study shows that the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) can predict survival in ICU patients, with lower PNI values linked to higher mortality.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates PNI's independent association with ICU mortality, offering a novel, easily measurable tool for prognosis.

## Key findings

- Deceased ICU patients had significantly lower PNI values compared to survivors.
- Each unit increase in PNI was associated with a 6% decrease in mortality risk.
- Lower PNI was independently linked to mortality after adjusting for other factors.

## Abstract

Background: Morbidity and mortality rates in intensive care units (ICUs) reflect the severe health challenges faced by critically ill patients. Nutritional and immune status, as measured by the prognostic nutritional index (PNI), are increasingly recognized as important predictors of intensive care unit outcomes. Objective: We aimed to compare the prognostic nutritional index levels of survived and deceased subjects treated in intensive care units. Methods: This retrospective study examined the association between prognostic nutritional index and mortality among intensive care unit patients treated from June 2023 to June 2024. The prognostic nutritional index was calculated using serum albumin and lymphocyte levels, and patients were categorized into survived and deceased groups. Statistical analyses, including ROC and logistic regression, were used to evaluate prognostic nutritional index’s predictive capacity. Results: We revealed that deceased patients had significantly lower prognostic nutritional index values, lower platelet counts, and higher C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum creatinine levels compared to survivors. The prognostic nutritional index was independently associated with mortality, with each unit increase decreasing mortality risk by 6%. Conclusion: These findings highlight the prognostic nutritional index’s utility as a prognostic tool in intensive care unit settings, underscoring the need for nutritional assessments and targeted interventions to improve patient outcomes. Further research with larger cohorts is warranted to validate these findings and explore causative mechanisms.