Complete Blood Count and Derived Indices: Evolution Pattern and Prognostic Value in Adult Burned Patients.

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Critical Care Medicine
• Burn Surgery

Background:

• Complete blood count (CBC) parameters, including red cell distribution width (RDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and RDW-to-platelet ratio (RPR), are linked to inflammation and patient outcomes in various conditions.
• The prognostic value of these CBC-derived indices in adult burn patients remains incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the evolution patterns of RDW, MPV, NLR, PLR, and RPR in adult burn patients.
• To assess the association of these CBC parameters with burn severity, patient characteristics, and mortality.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving two cohorts of adult burn patients admitted to the National Burn Center in Uruguay.
• Collection of CBC parameters (RDW, MPV, NLR, PLR, RPR) on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 post-thermal injury.
• Correlation and survival analyses (Kaplan-Meier) to evaluate the prognostic significance of the studied parameters.

Main Results:

• Nonsurvivors exhibited higher RDW and MPV compared to survivors.
• Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) decreased post-admission but remained elevated in nonsurvivors.
• RDW-to-platelet ratio (RPR) was significantly higher in deceased patients on days 3, 5, and 7, while PLR was lower.
• NLR on admission correlated with burn extent and severity.
• Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that NLR, PLR, and RPR could predict increased mortality risk.

Conclusions:

• Basic CBC parameters and derived indices serve as valuable, accessible biomarkers for prognostication in adult burn patients.
• These hematological markers can aid in identifying patients at higher risk of mortality, facilitating timely clinical intervention.