Correlation analysis between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte count trajectory changes and prognosis in patients with cerebral contusion

Abstract Background Cerebral contusion (CC) is a prevalent form of primary traumatic brain injury (TBI). The research aimed to examine the initial alterations in neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) count trajectory and their possible implications for the prognosis of CC patients. Results This study ultimately validated three NLR trajectory models, which were the Low-stable group consisting of 175 patients, the Moderate-stable group comprising 56 patients, and the High-stable group comprising 28 patients. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the hazard ratios (HRs) for an unfavorable prognosis were 0.97 (0.57–1.64), 0.63 (0.34–1.18), and 0.46 (0.24–0.87) for NLR quartiles 2, 3, and 4, respectively, when compared to quartile 1 ( P = 0.011). Conclusion In patients with cerebral contusion, elevated NLR have been linked to a poor prognosis at three months. These results imply that NLR may be a good prognostic indicator for assessing the severity and prognosis of CC cases. The peak of NLR values occurred on the 4th to 6th day after admission in all three trajectory groups, which may help us intervene in patients for better prognosis.