The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) is an independent predictor of overall survival in older patients with follicular lymphoma
Pablo Mozas, Andrea Rivero, Alfredo Rivas‐Delgado, Ferran Nadeu, Eva Giné, Julio Delgado, Neus Villamor, Elı́as Campo, Patricia Pérez‐Galán, Laura Magnano, Armando López‐Guillermo
Abstract
The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), a parameter combining serum albumin concentration and absolute lymphocyte count, is considered a measure of the nutritional and inflammatory status and the host’s anti-tumor response. We analyzed the clinical characteristics and outcomes according to the PNI of 351 grades 1–3 A FL patients. Forty-one patients (12%) had a PNI ≤45, who were older and showed adverse baseline features. A low PNI was associated with a shorter PFS (only for patients >60 years), and OS (for all patients, 10-year OS, 52% versus 74%, p = 0.0001). The prognostic impact of the PNI on OS was confirmed in a multivariate model for patients >60 years (HR = 3, p = 0.006). In conclusion, the PNI is a readily accessible piece of information that can identify a small subset of FL patients with shorter survival, and it could be an aid to improve the nutritional status of patients prior to treatment initiation.