JHSM
Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine

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Original Article
The Prognostic Nutritional Index as a predictor of in-hospital mortality in geriatric intensive care patients
Abstract
Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) in predicting in-hospital mortality among geriatric patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).
Methods: This single-center, retrospective cohort study included 337 patients aged ?65 years who were admitted to the ICU between June and December 2024. Patients were divided into two groups based on clinical outcomes: survivors and non-survivors. Demographic data, comorbidities, clinical outcomes, and laboratory values including serum albumin and lymphocyte count were analyzed. PNI was calculated as: PNI=[10×serum albumin (g/dl)]+[0.005×total lymphocyte count (/mm3)]. Statistical analyses included univariate and multivariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.
Results: Among 337 patients, 195 (57.9%) died during ICU stay. PNI scores were significantly lower in non-survivors (p=0.001), with an optimal cut-off value of ?29.8 (sensitivity: 43.1%, specificity: 90.1%). The area under the ROC curve for PNI was 0.661, indicating limited discriminatory power. Multivariate analysis identified prolonged ICU stay (OR=1.052), elevated WBC (OR=1.044), hypoalbuminemia (OR=2.283), increased urea (OR=1.006), lactate (OR=1.144), sepsis (OR=2.362), and stroke (OR=2.746) as independent predictors of mortality (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Low PNI scores are associated with in-hospital mortality in geriatric ICU patients. However, given its low sensitivity and moderate AUC, PNI should not be used as a standalone predictor. Instead, as a simple and cost-effective biomarker, it may serve as a supportive tool alongside other clinical parameters for early risk stratification in geriatric intensive care settings.

Keywords : Prognostic Nutritional Index, malnutrition, geriatric patients, intensive care unit, mortality, albumin, lymphocyte count

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Article available in :
Volume 8, Issue 3, 2025
Page : 502-506
https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1666689
Article Information
Received : 27 Mar 2025
Accepted : 22 May 2025
Published : 30 May 2025
Corresponding Author :

Kübra Taşkın: Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, İstanbul Kartal Dr• Lütfi Kırdar City Hospital, İstanbul, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Taşkın K, Bulun Yediyıldız M, Durmuş İ, Fidan R. The Prognostic Nutritional Index as a predictor of in-hospital mortality in geriatric intensive care patients. J Health Sci Med. 2025;8(3):502-506.

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