Pan-immune inflammation value; a novel biomarker reflecting inflammation associated with frailty

Frailty is suggested to be associated with age-related changes in the immune system, namely immunosenescence. Few studies have investigated the association of frailty with circulating immune biomarkers reflecting immunosenescence. Pan-immune inflammation value (PIV) is a new composite circulating immune biomarker to predict inflammation status.

This study aimed to assess the relationship between PIV and frailty.

A total of 405 geriatric patients were enrolled in the study. All participants underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment. The comorbidity burden was evaluated with Charlson Comorbidity Index. Frailty status was evaluated via the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), and patients with CFS scores ≥ 5 were defined as living with frailty. PIV was calculated using the formula: (Neutrophil × monocyte × platelet)/lymphocyte. Patients were defined as PIV-low (≤ 372) and PIV-high (> 372).

The median age of participants was 72 (IQR = 67-78) years and; 63.0% (n = 225) were female. Patients were divided into two categories (i.e., robust and living with frailty groups), and 320 (79.0%) and 85 (21.0%) patients were in each group, respectively. Median PIV was higher in the living with frailty group (p = 0.008). In the linear and logistic regression analyses, both PIV and PIV-high (> 372) were significantly associated with frailty independently of confounders.

This is the first study revealing the relationship between PIV and frailty. PIV may be seen as a novel biomarker reflecting inflammation associated with frailty.