Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) as inflammatory markers in Obese and Overweight Egyptian Patients.

Purpose of study: The global obesity pandemic continues to escalate, with projections that 167 million individual experience health complications due to overweight or obesity. Obesity is a multifactorial, chronic, multisystemic, neurobehavioral disease, with accumulation of excess body fat leading to adverse metabolic, biomechanical and psychosocial health consequences. It is currently recognized as a pro-inflammatory state, where the inflammatory response is triggered by increased fat storage demands. Aim of the study: This study aimed to evaluate and compare neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and platelet counts in patients versus controls, in order to assess the degree of systemic inflammation with obesity. Subject and method: The study was conducted on 150 subjects divided into two groups: Group I (n=100 patients) was further subdivided into Group Ia (n=50, obese) and Group Ib (n=50, overweight). Group II (n=50) served as the control group. All participants were subjected to comprehensive history taking, clinical examination and complete blood count (CBC) analysis. Results: The study revealed statistically significant (p < 0.001) positive correlations between body mass index (BMI) and NLR (r = 0.401) and monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) (r = 0.574). A statistically significant (p = 0.030) positive correlation was also found between BMI and PLR (r = 0.219). Conclusion: Obesity induces significant alterations in inflammatory markers (NLR and PLR), reflecting a state of chronic inflammation. These hematological changes underscore the complex link between obesity and inflammation.