HALP Score as a Mortality Predictor in Elderly Home-Care Patients

The hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) scoring system reflects nutritional status and systemic inflammation and aims to provide information about patients' prognosis. This study aims to eval-uate the association between the HALP score and mortality risk in elderly home-care patients.

This retrospective study included 481 elderly patients who died between January 2021 and December 2023 while being followed by the Home Health Care Service. The dates of death were recorded, and survival durations were categorized into groups. Laboratory parameters obtained from hospital electronic records were used to calculate HALP scores (hemoglobin x albumin x lymphocyte)/platelet. Additionally, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR) were calculated for comparison. Statistical analyses included ROC curve analysis, correlation tests, and group comparisons based on survival duration.

A HALP score cutoff of ≤ 25.22 predicted mortality with a sensitivity of 68.27% and specificity of 53.68%. Both NLR and CAR were inversely correlated to survival times (p < 0.05). Patients with longer survival durations had significantly higher HALP scores and lower NLR and CAR values compared to those with shorter survival durations.

The HALP and modified HALP may serve as useful prognostic markers for mortality prediction in elderly home-care patients. Since HALP is calculated from simple, routinely available laboratory parameters, its use in home health care settings-where geriatric and multimorbid patients predominate-could contribute to early risk stratification and cost-effective care planning.