Prognostic Nutritional Index Could Serve as a Reliable Prognostic Marker in Intensive Care Population

Morbidity and mortality rates in intensive care unit (intensive care unit) reflect the severe health challenges faced by critically ill patients. Nutritional and immune status, as measured by the Prognostic Nutritional Index (prognostic nutritional index), are increasingly recognized as important predictors of intensive care unit outcomes. We aimed to compare prognostic nutritional index levels of survived and deceased subjects that treated in intensive care unit. This retrospective study examined the association between prognostic nutritional index and mortality among intensive care unit patients treated from June 2023 to June 2024. Prognostic nutritional index was calculated using serum albumin and lymphocyte levels, and patients were categorized into survived and deceased groups. Statistical analyses, including ROC and logistic regression, were used to evaluate prognostic nutritional index’s predictive capacity. We revealed that deceased patients had significantly lower prognostic nutritional index values, lower platelet counts, and higher C-reactive protein (C-reactive protein) and serum creatinine levels compared to survivors. Prognostic nutritional index was independently associated with mortality, with each unit decrease increasing mortality risk by 94%. These findings highlight prognostic nutritional index’s utility as a prognostic tool in intensive care unit settings, underscoring the need for nutritional assessments and targeted interventions to improve patient outcomes. Further research with larger cohorts is warranted to validate these findings and explore causative mechanisms.