CAN LACTATE ALBUMIN RATIO BE A MARKER TO PREDICT THE OUTCOMES OF PATIENTS WITH COPD EXACERBATION?

<bold>Introduction and purpose:</bold> As it is known,COPD is one of the most important causes of mortality and morbidity all over the world. Previous studies have shown that the lactate/albumin(L/A) ratio plays a role in predicting the outcome of septic shock or severe sepsis and is a marker of mortality in acute respiratory failure. However, the role of the L/A ratio in predicting outcomes of COPD exacerbation patients is unclear. <bold>Method:</bold> The study included COPD exacerbation patients who received inpatient treatment in our chest diseases service between 2018 and 2022. Laboratory results and follow-up parameters of the patients were scanned retrospectively from the automation system. The primary endpoints were 30-day mortality from the date of admission and admission to intensive care. <bold>Results:</bold> There are a total of 157 patients in our study and the median age is 72 years. The median length of stay of patients in the ward is 12 days. During the ward follow-up, 16 (10.2%) patients required intensive care, and 2(1.43%)patients died during the ward follow-up. During the 30day follow-up from the moment of admission to the hospital,12 patients (7.6%) died. The median L/A ratio of the patients was 0.622. When the L/A ratio of patients who died and did not die within 30days was compared, no significant difference was found (p>0.05). Again, no significant difference was found in the L/A ratio between patients going to intensive care and other patients(p>0.05). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> L/A ratio was not found to be a predictor of all-cause mortality and admission to intensive care within 30 days after admission in COPD exacerbation patients. More studies are needed to determine the use of the L/A ratio in COPD exacerbation patients.