The Role of the C-Reactive Protein-albumin-lymphocyte Index in Predicting In-hospital Mortality Among Patients Undergoing Pericardiocentesis

Objectives: Pericardiocentesis is a key treatment for pericardial effusion (PE), with the tamponade technique used to extract fluid from the pericardial space. The CALLY index combines the prognostic nutrition index (PNI) and C-reactive protein (CRP) to assess nutritional, immune, and inflammatory status in cancer patients. This study aims to explore how the CALLY index, assessed at admission, relates to predicting in-hospital mortality in patients with PE undergoing pericardiocentesis. Methods: This study is a retrospective observational analysis conducted at a single center. Following the application of exclusion criteria, a total of 204 patients were ultimately included in the study. The study sample was split into two groups based on whether in-hospital mortality was present or not. Results: The primary outcome of the study was that the CALLY index was lower in the in-hospital mortality group than in the survival group. In addition, in the group with in-hospital mortality, the CALLY index of pericardial fluid calculated using pericardial fluid albumin was lower than in the survival group. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed significant correlations between in-hospital mortality and lactate, the CALLY index, as well as the CALLY index of pericardial fluid. Further analysis of these variables using multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that lactate, the CALLY index, and the CALLY index of pericardial fluid were independent predictors for the development of in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: This study shows the prognostic importance of the CALLY index and the CALLY index of pericardial fluid for in-hospital mortality in patients with PE undergoing pericardiocentesis.