Values of prognostic nutritional index in predicting the outcomes of COVID-19 patients

Objective: To assess the association between prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and survival in patients hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: In this retrospective study, we collected data of COVID-19 patients in Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital. The PNI were calculated on the basis of blood test results. Results: The PNI in severe patients was significantly lower than that in mild group (29.7 versus 46.8, P<0.001);while the PNI value also showed signifcant difference between death group and survival group (28.15 versus 38.1, P<0.001). ROC analysis revealed that PNI was important for the diagnosis of severe COVID-19, and could be used as an independent predictor of survival in severe patients (P<0.01). Conclusion: Low prognostic nutritional index was remarkably associated with a poor prognosis in severe patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. © 2021, Editorial Board of Medical Journal of Wuhan University. All right reserved.