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Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio predicts poor outcomes after acute ischemic stroke: A cohort study and systematic review

Lu Wang, Qu-Hong Song, Chang-Yi Wang, Si-Miao Wu, Ling-Hui Deng, Yu-Xiao Li, Lu-Kai Zheng, Ming Liu

Journal of Neurological Sciences, 2019

9,563 participants · 116 citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The relationship between neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and prognosis after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) remains controversial. The aim of this cohort study and systematic review was to ascertain the association of admission NLR with major clinical poor outcomes after AIS.

METHODS

We analyzed data from Chengdu stroke registry and performed a systematic review for previous literature. The outcomes were hemorrhagic transformation (HT), parenchymal hematoma (PH), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), 3-month death or disability (modified Rankin Scale≥3), and 3-month death. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of NLR as a continuous and categorical variable and poor outcomes were pooled separately. We also calculated the predictive accuracy of admission NLR in different outcomes.

RESULTS

We included 808 patients from registry database and 9563 patients from previous studies. Our registry data showed that NLR ≥5 was associated with HT (OR 2.03, 95%CI 1.19-3.46), PH (OR 2.54, 95%CI 1.20-5.35) and 3-month death (OR 5.55, 95%CI 1.41-21.89); meta-analysis with our data and other observational studies indicated that higher NLR was associated with HT (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.45-2.73), sICH (OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.60-3.09), 3-month death or disability (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.18-2.38), and 3-month death (OR 2.79, 95% CI 1.57, 4.94). NLR had the highest predictive accuracy for 3-month death.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher NLR is positively associated with the risk of…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 9,563 participants or records.

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