Prognostic value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in acute organophosphorus pesticide poisoning

This study investigates the ability of blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) to predict acute organophosphorus pesticide poisoning (AOPP). Clinical data of 385 patients with AOPP were obtained within 24 h of admission, and NLR values were calculated based on neutrophil and lymphocyte counts. The patients were divided into two groups – good and poor – based on prognosis. Poor prognosis included in-hospital death and severe poisoning. The factors affecting prognosis were analyzed by logistic regression analysis, and the prognostic value of NLR was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that NLR levels, serum cholinesterase, and creatinine levels were good predictors of AOPP. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that high NLR was an independent risk factor for severe poisoning (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.13; 95% CI, 1.10–1.17; p < 0.05) and in-hospital mortality (AOR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.03–1.11; p < 0.05). NLR values >13 and >17 had a moderate ability to predict severe poisoning and in-hospital mortality, respectively (AUC of 0.782 [95% CI, 0.74–0.824] and 0.714 [95% CI, 0.626–0.803], respectively). Our results show that high NLR at admission is an independent indicator of poor prognosis in AOPP and can be used to optimize treatment and manage patients.