Newly designed delta neutrophil index-to-serum albumin ratio prognosis of early mortality in severe sepsis.

Purpose: We evaluated the ratio of delta neutrophil index (DNI) to albumin (A) in patients receiving early goal-directed therapy (EGDT) to determine the prognostic significance of the DNI/A ratio as a marker of early mortality in critically ill patients with suspected sepsis.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed records from a prospective EGDT registry in an emergency department (ED) and screened eligible adult patients who were admitted to the ED with severe sepsis and/or septic shock. The new DNI/A ratio was calculated as the DNI value on each hospital day divided by the initial albumin level on ED admission. The clinical outcome was mortality after 28 days.

Results: A total of 120 patients receiving EGDT were included in this study. Multivariate Cox proportional-hazard models revealed that higher DNI/A ratios on day 1 (hazard ratio [HR], 1.068; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.13; P = .0209) and the peak day (HR, 1.057; 95% CI, 1.001-1.116; P = .0456) were independent risk factors for mortality at 28 days. Our study demonstrated that the increased trend toward 28-day mortality was associated with a DNI/A ratio greater than 8.4 on day 1 (HR, 2.513; 95% CI, 0.950-6.64; P = .0528) and a higher DNI/A ratio (>6.4) on the peak day (average, 4.2 days; HR, 2.953; 95% CI, 1.033-8.441; P < .001) in patients with severe sepsis receiving EGDT.

Conclusion: The ratio of DNI to serum albumin on ED admission is a promising prognostic marker of 28-day mortality in patients with severe sepsis receiving EGDT.