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Cardiac patients

Long-Term Prognostic Value of the Prognostic Nutritional Index in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association has shed light on the long-term prognostic value of the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. The research, conducted by a team of experts at Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, analyzed the outcomes of 6626 patients who underwent the surgery from 2001 to 2017. The study found that PNI, calculated as 10 x serum albumin (g/dL)+0.005 x total lymphocyte count (per mm3), was significantly associated with long-term mortality after the surgery, and its addition improved risk discrimination beyond conventional clinical models.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study analyzed a large cohort of 6626 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting from 2001 to 2017.
  • The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) was calculated as 10 x serum albumin (g/dL)+0.005 x total lymphocyte count (per mm3).
  • PNI was negatively correlated with age, with older patients having lower PNI values.
  • Patients with higher PNI values had better outcomes, with a significantly reduced risk of long-term mortality.
  • The study found that addition of PNI to conventional clinical models improved risk discrimination and provided additional prognostic information.
  • The research concluded that perioperative PNI was significantly associated with long-term mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Statistics:

  • 6626 patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 64.8 years.
  • The study found that PNI was negatively correlated with age, with r=-0.24 (P 47, n=2670).
  • Patients with serum albumin levels of 3.5 g/dL or higher and total lymphocyte count of 1500 cells/mm3 or higher had better outcomes.
  • The addition of PNI to conventional clinical models improved risk discrimination, with a C-index of 0.88 versus 0.78 for the clinical model alone.

Sources:

  • Long-Term Prognostic Value of the Prognostic Nutritional Index in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting. Journal of the American Heart Association: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease, 2025,14(19). (http://jaha.ahajournals.org).
  • Research on Heart Bypass Surgery Reported by Researchers at Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine (Long-Term Prognostic Value of the Prognostic Nutritional Index in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting). Cardiovascular Week. October 20, 2025; p 131.

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