Systemic inflammation predicts all-cause mortality: a glasgow inflammation outcome study

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Science
• Oncology
• Inflammation Research

Background:

• Systemic inflammatory response markers like C-reactive protein, albumin, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet counts are linked to cancer survival.
• The modified Glasgow Prognostic Score combines C-reactive protein and albumin levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prognostic relationship between systemic inflammatory markers and mortality (all-cause, cancer, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular).
• To evaluate the predictive value of an inflammation-based score using high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, albumin, and neutrophil count.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of a large cohort (n=160,481) with incidental blood samples from 2000-2008.
• Inclusion of patients (n=52,091) with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein measurements.
• Calculation of cumulative inflammation-based scores.

Main Results:

• Elevated C-reactive protein (>10mg/l), albumin (>35mg/l), and neutrophil counts (>7.5×10^9/l) independently predicted all-cause mortality (HRs 2.71, 3.68, 2.18 respectively; p<0.001).
• These associations held for cancer, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular mortality.
• A combined score using high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (>3mg/l), albumin, and neutrophil count showed strong prognostic value for all-cause (HR 7.37, AUC 0.723), cancer (HR 9.32, AUC 0.731), cardiovascular (HR 4.03, AUC 0.650), and cerebrovascular mortality (HR 3.10, AUC 0.623).

Conclusions:

• An inflammation-based prognostic score incorporating high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, albumin, and neutrophil count is a significant predictor of all-cause mortality.
• This score offers a robust tool for prognostic assessment in a broad patient cohort.