Hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte and platelet (HALP) score effectiveness in peptic ulcer perforation

Background: Peptic ulcer perforation (PUP) has mortality rates up to 30%. This study aims to determine whether the “emoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte and platelet” (HALP) score is effective in predicting morbidity and mortality of PUP cases. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted from January 2019 to September 2023, at the General Surgery Clinic of Isparta City Hospital. Patients included in this research underwent surgery after being diagnosed with PUP. Demographic data and HALP score were collected. To analyze the HALP score’s prognostic significance, Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Curve analysis was performed, and a ROC curve was created. Sample size was calculated using G*Power program. Results: The study included 141 patients (112 males, 29 females), 55.97 ± 21.51 (18–97) years old. Patients with complications and mortality had lower HALP scores in comparison to patients without complications and mortality (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The HALP score is calculated with simple laboratory data and is a cheap and easy scoring system to predict post-surgical complications and mortalities in PUP patients.