Novel markers for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease monitoring: Glasgow Prognostic Score and Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio

Aims: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common, preventable, and treatable disease characterized by persistent airflow limitation, frequent exacerbations, and respiratory symptoms. In this study, the usability of Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS) as markers to determine exacerbation patients, exacerbation severity and length of hospital stay in COPD patients was investigated.
Methods: 56 patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbation and 17 stable COPD patients evaluated in the outpatient clinic were included in the study. NLR and GPS were calculated for all patients. The relationship between NLR and GPS with the duration of hospitalization due to COPD exacerbation and the severity of exacerbation and the relationship between NLR with stable COPD patients and exacerbation patients were examined.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 64.9 years, and the mean cigarette consumption was 40.8 packs/year. The patients’ mean FEV1, FVC, and FEV1 / FVC values were 46.2±21.6%, 67.6±26.4%, and 53.7±14.1%, respectively. NLR and GPS were determined to be statistically different between exacerbation patients and stable patients, and as the severity of exacerbation increased, the average NLR level increased significantly. When the relationship between NLR and GPS levels with the length of hospitalization was examined, a statistically significant relationship was found between both parameters with the length of stay.
Conclusion: It is thought that NLR and GPS levels can be used as an essential parameter in differentiating stable and exacerbation patients in COPD, determining the severity of exacerbation, and predicting hospitalization durations due to exacerbation.