C-Reactive Protein to Serum Albumin Ratio as a Novel Biomarker to Predict Prognosis in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the C-reactive protein to serum albumin ratio (CAR) to predict prognosis in COPD patients with acute exacerbations (AECOPD).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of AECOPD patients, admitted to a large tertiary hospital between January 2017 and June 2018, was conducted. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were built to assess the relationship between variables and different clinical outcomes in one-year follow up. In addition, Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the relationship between CAR and the time to first rehospitalization due to acute exacerbation of COPD.

Results: A total of 167 AECOPD patients were included in this study, with an overall age of 68.5 ± 9.4 years. Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that CAR at admission was significantly associated with rehospitalization and frequent exacerbations in COPD patients (p < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier curve showed that the rehospitalization event-free rate was significantly higher in the low CAR group than the high CAR group (p < 0.01).

Conclusions: As an easily available parameter, CAR at admission can be an independent predictor for rehospitalization and frequent exacerbations in COPD patients with acute exacerbations.