Índice neutrófilo-linfocito (NLR) vs. índice plaqueta-linfocito (PLR) como factor pronóstico de sepsis neonatal en pacientes del Hospital General Guasmo Sur en el periodo septiembre 2019 – diciembre 2020.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of biomarkers NLR versus PLR as early predictors of neonatal sepsis, in patients from the Hospital General Guasmo Sur. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive, observational, retrospective, transversal study was made with a sample constituent of 78 newborns with diagnosis of neonatal sepsis, who were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data analysis was performed through SPSS statistical package version 26, using a registry matrix. Fisher’s exact test was utilized for comparing both diagnostic tests. An ROC curve permitted the finding of optimal Sensibility and Specificity values for the Neutrophile-Lymphocyte Ratios and Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratios. Kappa Index was used for measuring diagnostic concordance. RESULTS: The optimal cutoff value for NLR as a predictor of neonatal sepsis was 4.427, the ROC’s Area Under Curve showed off a value of AUC=0.495 (p = 0.334, with 95% C.I.). The optimal cutoff value for PLR as a predictor of neonatal sepsis was 164.749, the ROC’s Area Under Curve showed off a value of AUC=0.534 (p = 0.067, with 95% C.I.). The NLR obtained values of S 20%, E 94.8 %, VPP 57.1%, VPN 77.5% and diagnostic precision of 69.23%; versus PLR values of S 30%, E 82.8 %, VPP 37.5%, VPN 77.4% and diagnostic precision of 75.64%. Furthermore, the NLR had a kappa coefficient of 0.137, versus 0.188 of PLR, both of which correspond to por concordance levels. CONCLUSION: PLR is more effective than NLR in predicting neonatal sepsis in newborns of Hospital General Guasmo Sur, although neither of these ratios achieved commonly-accepted statistical significance to be employed as useful diagnostic tests on their own.