Evaluation of Hematological and Biochemical Markers in Prediction of Severity of Sepsis

A BSTRACT Introduction: Sepsis, a major global health issue, arises from a dysregulated response to infection and can lead to serious complications such as multiorgan failure or septic shock. It is one of the leading causes of hospitalization and death among intensive care unit (ICU) patients worldwide. A sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score (>2 points) indicates organ failure in suspected sepsis cases. This study aimed to evaluate various laboratory biomarkers such as neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet indices, C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) to assess sepsis severity and compare their predictive value. Methodology: An observational study was conducted on 200 newly diagnosed sepsis patients admitted to the ICU over a period of 2 years. The difference between the predictive ability of various inflammatory markers, such as NLR, PCT, and CRP, within 24 h, 72 h, and at the time of discharge, along with the correlation between these markers with SOFA score, were analyzed. Patients were grouped into survivors and nonsurvivors based on mortality outcomes. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS Software version 20. Results: Hematological parameters such as absolute neutrophil count, absolute monocyte count (AMC), and MPV/platelet ratio showed a significant rise in the survivors group compared to the nonsurvivors group ( P < 0.05). Positive correlations were found between the SOFA score severity and levels of NLR, platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV), CRP, and PCT ( P < 0.05). MPV/platelet ratio and PLR were not statistically significant ( P > 0.05). Conclusion: Inflammatory markers such as NLR, CRP, and PCT are crucial for assessing disease severity and prognosis in sepsis patients.