The L-shaped relationship between HALP score and one-year mortality in critically ill surgical patients: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract The hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score serves as a composite biomarker reflecting systemic inflammatory and nutritional status, which has demonstrated prognostic significance across various clinical conditions. This investigation specifically examines the association...

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Main Authors: Hao Xia, Jiawei Lai, Jinzhan Lin, Zhaobin Yang, Luzhen Qiu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93821-9
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author Hao Xia
Jiawei Lai
Jinzhan Lin
Zhaobin Yang
Luzhen Qiu
author_facet Hao Xia
Jiawei Lai
Jinzhan Lin
Zhaobin Yang
Luzhen Qiu
author_sort Hao Xia
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score serves as a composite biomarker reflecting systemic inflammatory and nutritional status, which has demonstrated prognostic significance across various clinical conditions. This investigation specifically examines the association between HALP scores and 12-month mortality in critically ill surgical patients. Analyzing retrospective data from 8,052 patients in the Taichung Veterans General Hospital Critical Care Database, we employed nonlinear regression modeling with smooth curve fitting, threshold effect analysis, and multivariable logistic regression. The cohort demonstrated a 24.2% one-year mortality rate, with adjusted analyses revealing a nonlinear L-shaped association between HALP scores and mortality risk (p < 0.001). Below the inflection point of 44.8, each unit increase in HALP score was associated with a 2.6% reduction in mortality risk. When categorized into quartiles (Q2: 22.3–35.1; Q3: 35.2–53.9; Q4: 54.0-172.5), the adjusted odds ratios for 12-month mortality demonstrated progressive attenuation: 0.74 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.64–0.86; P < 0.001) for Q2, 0.58 (95% CI 0.50–0.69; P < 0.001) for Q3, and 0.46 (95% CI 0.39–0.55; P < 0.001) for Q4, relative to the lowest quartile. Stratified and sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings. This study demonstrates that lower HALP scores are associated with poorer long-term prognosis in critically ill surgical patients.
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spelling doaj-art-fbda0114579a4fbeb03bc8e2d4b72a592025-08-20T03:38:12ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-93821-9The L-shaped relationship between HALP score and one-year mortality in critically ill surgical patients: a retrospective cohort studyHao Xia0Jiawei Lai1Jinzhan Lin2Zhaobin Yang3Luzhen Qiu4Department of Medicine Intensive Care Unit, Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical UniversityDepartment of Medicine Intensive Care Unit, Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical UniversityDepartment of Medicine Intensive Care Unit, Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical UniversityDepartment of Medicine Intensive Care Unit, Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical UniversityDepartment of Medicine Intensive Care Unit, Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical UniversityAbstract The hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score serves as a composite biomarker reflecting systemic inflammatory and nutritional status, which has demonstrated prognostic significance across various clinical conditions. This investigation specifically examines the association between HALP scores and 12-month mortality in critically ill surgical patients. Analyzing retrospective data from 8,052 patients in the Taichung Veterans General Hospital Critical Care Database, we employed nonlinear regression modeling with smooth curve fitting, threshold effect analysis, and multivariable logistic regression. The cohort demonstrated a 24.2% one-year mortality rate, with adjusted analyses revealing a nonlinear L-shaped association between HALP scores and mortality risk (p < 0.001). Below the inflection point of 44.8, each unit increase in HALP score was associated with a 2.6% reduction in mortality risk. When categorized into quartiles (Q2: 22.3–35.1; Q3: 35.2–53.9; Q4: 54.0-172.5), the adjusted odds ratios for 12-month mortality demonstrated progressive attenuation: 0.74 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.64–0.86; P < 0.001) for Q2, 0.58 (95% CI 0.50–0.69; P < 0.001) for Q3, and 0.46 (95% CI 0.39–0.55; P < 0.001) for Q4, relative to the lowest quartile. Stratified and sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings. This study demonstrates that lower HALP scores are associated with poorer long-term prognosis in critically ill surgical patients.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93821-9HALP scoreLong term prognosisSurgicalIntensive care unit
spellingShingle Hao Xia
Jiawei Lai
Jinzhan Lin
Zhaobin Yang
Luzhen Qiu
The L-shaped relationship between HALP score and one-year mortality in critically ill surgical patients: a retrospective cohort study
Scientific Reports
HALP score
Long term prognosis
Surgical
Intensive care unit
title The L-shaped relationship between HALP score and one-year mortality in critically ill surgical patients: a retrospective cohort study
title_full The L-shaped relationship between HALP score and one-year mortality in critically ill surgical patients: a retrospective cohort study
title_fullStr The L-shaped relationship between HALP score and one-year mortality in critically ill surgical patients: a retrospective cohort study
title_full_unstemmed The L-shaped relationship between HALP score and one-year mortality in critically ill surgical patients: a retrospective cohort study
title_short The L-shaped relationship between HALP score and one-year mortality in critically ill surgical patients: a retrospective cohort study
title_sort l shaped relationship between halp score and one year mortality in critically ill surgical patients a retrospective cohort study
topic HALP score
Long term prognosis
Surgical
Intensive care unit
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93821-9
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