A new study in the Anatolian Journal of Cardiology explored the role of nutritional health in predicting survival outcomes for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). There was a significant association of preoperative and postoperative Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) scores with postoperative mortality.
The retrospective cohort study reviewed data from 440 patients who underwent CABG between March 2021 and April 2023. PNI values were calculated using serum albumin levels and lymphocyte counts. The study evaluated the ability of the nutritional indicators to predict the risk of death after surgery.
The study found an association of the lower preoperative PNI scores with higher mortality. For every 1-unit increase in preoperative PNI, the risk of death decreased by 5%. Similarly, a 1-unit increase in postoperative PNI was associated with a 6% reduction in mortality risk. Both indices independently predicted mortality; postoperative PNI reported a stronger association.