Establishing Neuron-Specific Enolase Reference Intervals: A Comparative Analysis of Partitioned Approach- and...

Area of Science:

• Clinical Chemistry
• Biostatistics
• Biomarker Research

Background:

• Static reference intervals (RIs) do not account for dynamic bioanalyte variations.
• Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is a key biomarker, but its reference ranges require dynamic adjustments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop gender-based, continuous, age- and season-integrated RIs for NSE.
• To compare these novel continuous RIs with traditional partitioned RIs.

Main Methods:

• Utilized real-world data from 4097 individuals for NSE analysis.
• Determined partitioned RIs using the Hoffmann method.
• Developed continuous RIs with Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale and Shape (GAMLSS).

Main Results:

• Partitioned RIs established for different age/gender groups.
• Continuous RIs revealed stable NSE in males but a significant increase in females around age 50.
• Seasonal variations were observed to influence NSE levels, albeit to a lesser extent than age.

Conclusions:

• Successfully developed gender-specific, continuous, age- and season-integrated RIs for NSE in North China.
• Highlighted significant age- and season-related variations in female NSE levels.
• Continuous RIs offer enhanced responsiveness and individualization for health assessments compared to static RIs.