Diagnostic Value of Serum Sodium Level and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Predicting Severity of Acute Appendicitis: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Two-Center Study

<i>Background and Objectives</i>: The best way to distinguish complicated acute appendicitis (CAA) from uncomplicated acute appendicitis (UCAA) is still under debate. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential use of the serum sodium (Na<sup>+</sup>) level and the...

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Main Authors: Serdar Senol, Mustafa Kusak, Dursun Burak Özdemir, Ahmet Murat Sendil
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Medicina
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/11/1844
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author Serdar Senol
Mustafa Kusak
Dursun Burak Özdemir
Ahmet Murat Sendil
author_facet Serdar Senol
Mustafa Kusak
Dursun Burak Özdemir
Ahmet Murat Sendil
author_sort Serdar Senol
collection DOAJ
description <i>Background and Objectives</i>: The best way to distinguish complicated acute appendicitis (CAA) from uncomplicated acute appendicitis (UCAA) is still under debate. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential use of the serum sodium (Na<sup>+</sup>) level and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) to distinguish CAA from UCAA and to evaluate whether CAA is more reliably diagnosed using these two variables together. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, two-center study of patients diagnosed with AA between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2023. The demographic and analytical variables were analyzed. The NLR was defined as the quotient between the absolute values of neutrophils and lymphocytes. Hyponatremia was defined as a serum Na<sup>+</sup> level of ≤135 mmol/L. The sensitivity and specificity of the NLR and the serum Na<sup>+</sup> level in the diagnosis of CAA were determined by assessing the receiver operating characteristic curves. <i>Results</i>: Among the patients who underwent an appendectomy, 3066 histologically confirmed AA cases were identified and included in this study. The registered data revealed that 348 (11.3%) patients had CAA, and the remaining 2718 (88.7%) patients had UCAA. The mean ages were 49.47 ± 18.97 and 38.16 ± 14.50, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The analysis revealed an exponential correlation between the NLR and the serum Na<sup>+</sup> level with a moderate degree of agreement with CAA (Cohen’s Kappa: 0.461, <i>p</i> < 0.001). For CAA, using the NLR and the serum Na<sup>+</sup> level, the areas under the curve and the cutoffs were 0.664, 4.2 with a confidence interval (CI) of 0.647–0.681 and 0.727, 135 mmol/L with a CI of 0.711–0.742, respectively; all these values were significant with a <i>p</i>-value of <0.001. <i>Conclusions</i>: Although the serum Na<sup>+</sup> level is a more effective marker than the NLR, using these two variables together can help detect high-risk patients who may benefit from early management by limiting delays in surgery.
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spelling doaj-art-5dbd10aaeb314f0cbb8503a8ad2284cd2024-11-26T18:12:38ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442024-11-016011184410.3390/medicina60111844Diagnostic Value of Serum Sodium Level and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Predicting Severity of Acute Appendicitis: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Two-Center StudySerdar Senol0Mustafa Kusak1Dursun Burak Özdemir2Ahmet Murat Sendil3Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Samsun Training and Research Hospital, 55090 Samsun, TurkeyDepartment of General Surgery, Samsun Training and Research Hospital, 55090 Samsun, TurkeyDepartment of Surgical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, 26040 Eskişehir, TurkeyDepartment of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, 26040 Eskişehir, Turkey<i>Background and Objectives</i>: The best way to distinguish complicated acute appendicitis (CAA) from uncomplicated acute appendicitis (UCAA) is still under debate. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential use of the serum sodium (Na<sup>+</sup>) level and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) to distinguish CAA from UCAA and to evaluate whether CAA is more reliably diagnosed using these two variables together. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, two-center study of patients diagnosed with AA between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2023. The demographic and analytical variables were analyzed. The NLR was defined as the quotient between the absolute values of neutrophils and lymphocytes. Hyponatremia was defined as a serum Na<sup>+</sup> level of ≤135 mmol/L. The sensitivity and specificity of the NLR and the serum Na<sup>+</sup> level in the diagnosis of CAA were determined by assessing the receiver operating characteristic curves. <i>Results</i>: Among the patients who underwent an appendectomy, 3066 histologically confirmed AA cases were identified and included in this study. The registered data revealed that 348 (11.3%) patients had CAA, and the remaining 2718 (88.7%) patients had UCAA. The mean ages were 49.47 ± 18.97 and 38.16 ± 14.50, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The analysis revealed an exponential correlation between the NLR and the serum Na<sup>+</sup> level with a moderate degree of agreement with CAA (Cohen’s Kappa: 0.461, <i>p</i> < 0.001). For CAA, using the NLR and the serum Na<sup>+</sup> level, the areas under the curve and the cutoffs were 0.664, 4.2 with a confidence interval (CI) of 0.647–0.681 and 0.727, 135 mmol/L with a CI of 0.711–0.742, respectively; all these values were significant with a <i>p</i>-value of <0.001. <i>Conclusions</i>: Although the serum Na<sup>+</sup> level is a more effective marker than the NLR, using these two variables together can help detect high-risk patients who may benefit from early management by limiting delays in surgery.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/11/1844appendectomyappendicitisbiomarkersdisease severitypredictivity
spellingShingle Serdar Senol
Mustafa Kusak
Dursun Burak Özdemir
Ahmet Murat Sendil
Diagnostic Value of Serum Sodium Level and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Predicting Severity of Acute Appendicitis: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Two-Center Study
Medicina
appendectomy
appendicitis
biomarkers
disease severity
predictivity
title Diagnostic Value of Serum Sodium Level and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Predicting Severity of Acute Appendicitis: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Two-Center Study
title_full Diagnostic Value of Serum Sodium Level and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Predicting Severity of Acute Appendicitis: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Two-Center Study
title_fullStr Diagnostic Value of Serum Sodium Level and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Predicting Severity of Acute Appendicitis: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Two-Center Study
title_full_unstemmed Diagnostic Value of Serum Sodium Level and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Predicting Severity of Acute Appendicitis: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Two-Center Study
title_short Diagnostic Value of Serum Sodium Level and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Predicting Severity of Acute Appendicitis: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Two-Center Study
title_sort diagnostic value of serum sodium level and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in predicting severity of acute appendicitis a retrospective cross sectional two center study
topic appendectomy
appendicitis
biomarkers
disease severity
predictivity
url https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/11/1844
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