NLR, MLR, PLR and RDW to predict outcome and differentiate between viral and bacterial pneumonia in the intensive care unit

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and red cell distribution width (RDW) are emerging biomarkers to predict outcomes in general ward patients. However, their role in the prognostication of critically ill patients with pneumonia is unclear. A total of 216 adult patients were enrolled over 2 years. They were classified into viral and bacterial pneumonia groups, as represented by influenza A virus and <jats:italic>Streptococcus pneumoniae,</jats:italic> respectively. Demographics, outcomes, and laboratory parameters were analysed. The prognostic power of blood parameters was determined by the respective area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Performance was compared using the APACHE IV score. Discriminant ability in differentiating viral and bacterial aetiologies was examined. Viral and bacterial pneumonia were identified in 111 and 105 patients, respectively. In predicting hospital mortality, the APACHE IV score was the best prognostic score compared with all blood parameters studied (AUC 0.769, 95% CI 0.705–0.833). In classification tree analysis, the most significant predictor of hospital mortality was the APACHE IV score (adjusted P = 0.000, χ<jats:sup>2</jats:sup> = 35.591). Mechanical ventilation was associated with higher hospital mortality in patients with low APACHE IV scores ≤ 70 (adjusted P = 0.014, χ<jats:sup>2</jats:sup> = 5.999). In patients with high APACHE IV scores > 90, age > 78 (adjusted P = 0.007, χ<jats:sup>2</jats:sup> = 11.221) and thrombocytopaenia (platelet count ≤ 128, adjusted P = 0.004, χ<jats:sup>2</jats:sup> = 12.316) were predictive of higher hospital mortality. The APACHE IV score is superior to all blood parameters studied in predicting hospital mortality. The single inflammatory marker with comparable prognostic performance to the APACHE IV score is platelet count at 48 h. However, there is no ideal biomarker for differentiating between viral and bacterial pneumonia.</jats:p>