The association between an inflammation-based nutritional tool (Glasgow Prognostic Score) and length of hospital stay in patients with haematological cancer

Background: This is a retrospective study to identify if Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS) is associated with length of hospital stay (LOS) in haematological cancer.

Methods: The participants were adult inpatients at a single centre in between 2018 and 2022. Serum levels of CRP and albumin were measured at admission. GPS was calculated as follows: point "0" as CRP < 10 mg/L and albumin ≥ 35 g/L; point "2" as CRP ≥ 10 mg/L and albumin < 35 g/L; point "1" as either CRP ≥ 10 mg/L or albumin < 35 g/L. Patients with point "0" were classified as low risk whilst point "2" as high risk. LOS was defined as the interval between the admission and discharge date.

Results: As a result, the average age was 59.6 ± 12.6 years and the average LOS was 6.0 days (IQR = 2 days, 11 days). Of 1621 patients, 8.8% of them were high risk. GPS was associated with LOS (β = 2.7 days; 95% CI = 0.8 days, 4.6 days; p trend < 0.001) after full adjustment. Each point of GPS was associated with 1.9 days (95% CI = 1.4 days, 2.4 days) longer in LOS with full adjustment. The association was more prominent in younger patients (< 65 years), patients with leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndrome, and those with normal body weight status (18.5-24 kg/m²), compared with their counterparts.

Conclusion: GPS was associated with LOS in Chinese patients with haematological cancer, indicating GPS could be a useful tool to predict outcome.