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Background: Malnutrition is common in patients with chronic cardiovascular disease and is associated with significantly higher all-cause mortality. Approximately one-third of patients with heart failure are malnourished. However, the relationship between malnutrition and idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify the prognostic value of malnutrition in patients with IPAH. Methods: A total of 432 consecutive participants with IPAH were included in this study between March 2013 and August 2021. Three common malnutrition assessment tools, including the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score, were used to evaluate the nutritional status of patients with IPAH. The relationships between the malnutrition tools and long-term adverse outcomes were determined using restricted cubic splines and multivariate Cox regression models. Results: During a mean follow-up of 3.1 years, 158 participants experienced clinical worsening or all-cause death. Patients were stratified into the low-, intermediate- and high-risk groups based on the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) risk stratification, and the PNI (55.9 ± 5.7 vs. 54.4 ± 7.2 vs. 51.1 ± 7.1, P = 0.005) and CONUT score (2.1 ± 0.9 vs. 2.5 ± 1.2 vs. 3.3 ± 1.1, P < 0.001) identified these patient groups better than the GNRI. All three malnutrition tools were associated with well-validated variables that reflected IPAH severity, such as the World Health Organization functional class, 6-min walk distance, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level. The CONUT score exhibited better predictive ability than both the GNRI (ΔAUC = 0.059, P < 0.001) and PNI (ΔAUC = 0.095, P < 0.001) for adverse outcomes and significantly improved reclassification and discrimination beyond the ESC risk score. Multivariable Cox regression analysis indicated that only the CONUT score (hazard ratio = 1.363, 95% confidence interval 1.147, 1.619 per 1.0-standard deviation increment, P < 0.001) independently predicted adverse outcomes. Conclusions: The malnutrition status was associated with disease severity in patients with IPAH. The CONUT score provided additional information regarding the risk of clinically worsening events, making it a meaningful risk stratification tool for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Most new cancers worldwide are diagnosed in older adults, highlighting the need for accessible and easy-to-use prognostic tools that contribute to lowering the burden of the disease in this age group. The aim of this systematic review is to understand whether the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) and the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) can predict survival in older adult cancer patients. The 38 studies included in this review vary substantially in terms of patients, cancer types, survival outcomes, and what is considered high and low PNI or CONUT. Overall, PNI showed an association with overall survival in most studies, indicating that it is an inexpensive biomarker that could be used as a prognostic tool in older adults diagnosed with cancer. The increase in new cancer diagnoses in the elderly calls for new, accessible, and easy-to-use prognostic tools that contribute to lowering the burden of the disease. Recognising the importance of inflammation and nutritional status in the progression of the disease, the purpose of this systematic review was to synthesise the evidence on the prognostic role of Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) and Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) in predicting survival of older adult cancer patients. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science Core Collection databases until 22 February 2024. The articles included in this review (n = 38) examined the relationships of PNI and CONUT with survival outcomes in elderly cancer patients. Despite high heterogeneity between the studies, most concluded that low PNI values are associated with poor overall survival (OS), particularly in gastric cancer patients. Most studies did not find an association between PNI and cancer-specific survival, progression-free survival, disease-free survival, recurrence-free survival, and mortality. Results regarding the prognostic role of CONUT in predicting survival were inconclusive. This study suggests that PNI could be used to predict OS in elderly cancer patients, while more studies are needed to assess the prognostic role of CONUT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several studies have found that the prognostic nutritional index (PNI), controlling nutritional status (CONUT), and Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS) of patients with laryngeal cancer accurately predict their prognosis. However, there is no consensus regarding the best assessment tool. Therefore, this study aimed to confirm the predictive value of the three nutritional scoring systems for the prognosis of patients with laryngeal cancer. Methods: This study analyzed a cohort of 427 patients with laryngeal cancer who visited our hospital. PNI, CONUT, and GPS were calculated, and the relationship between these indicators and prognosis was examined. Results: The optimal cut-off levels for overall survival (OS) of laryngeal cancer patients determined by PNI, CONUT, and GPS were 45, 3, and 0, respectively. When patients were stratified based on these thresholds, OS and disease-free survival (DFS) were significantly decreased in the malnutrition group (all three, p < 0.05). The OS rates of patients with laryngeal cancer were significantly affected by the three scores according to multivariate analysis. Conclusions: The three scoring methods had a high predictive value for the prognosis of patients with laryngeal cancer, with GPS having the strongest correlation with the prognosis of laryngeal cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although the prognostic value of the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has been reported in several previous studies, its clinical relevance for the presence of sarcopenia has not been assessed. Methods: In this study, 305 DLBCL patients were reviewed. They were categorized into normal/mild (n = 219) and moderate/severe (n = 86) CONUT groups. Sarcopenia was assessed using the L3-skeletal muscle index measured by baseline computed tomography imaging. Based on CONUT score and sarcopenia, patients were grouped: A (normal/mild CONUT and no sarcopenia), B (either moderate/severe CONUT or sarcopenia, but not both), and C (both moderate/severe CONUT and sarcopenia). Results: The moderate/severe CONUT group showed higher rates of ≥ grade 3 febrile neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, non-hematologic toxicities, and early treatment discontinuation not related to disease progression, compared to the normal/mild CONUT group. The moderate/severe CONUT group had a lower complete response rate (58.1% vs. 80.8%) and shorter median overall survival (18.5 vs. 162.6 months) than the normal/mild group. Group C had the poorest prognosis with a median survival of 8.6 months, while groups A and B showed better outcomes (not reached and 60.1 months, respectively). Combining CONUT score and sarcopenia improved the predictive accuracy of the Cox regression model (C-index: 0.763), compared to the performance of using either CONUT score (C-index: 0.754) or sarcopenia alone (C-index: 0.755). Conclusions: In conclusion, the moderate/severe CONUT group exhibited treatment intolerance, lower response, and poor prognosis. Additionally, combining CONUT score and sarcopenia enhanced predictive accuracy for survival outcomes compared to individual variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the impact of controlling nutritional status and prognostic nutritional index on the prognosis of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. Methods The clinical data of 119 patients with myelodysplastic syndrome treated in the department of Hematology of our hospital from March 2010 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The optimal cut-off point of observation index was calculated according to the receiver operating characteristic curve （ROC）. CONUT score and PNI were grouped based on the cut-off points of 4 and 36.75, respectively, and the differences between age, gender, blood cell count and IPSS scores were analyzed. The prognostic factors were analyzed via univariate and Cox multivariate regression analyses. Results The univariate analysis revealed that age, platelet count, bone marrow blast cell count, IPSS scores and CONUT were risk factors for the prognosis of patients with MDS. The multivariate analysis revealed that bone marrow blast cell count （HR = 1.06, 95%CI:1.01 ~ 1.12, P = 0.028） and CONUT （HR = 0.606, 95%CI:0.39 ~ 0.95, P = 0.028） were independent prognosis risk factors of patients with MDS. Conclusions High CONUT score in newly diagnosed MDS patients indicates poor prognosis and is an independent risk factor for MDS prognosis, while PNI is not an independent risk factor for MDS prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The preoperative controlling nutritional status (pCONUT) score has been shown correlated with the prognosis of some cancerous diseases; however, little is known about the effect of pCONUT score on hypopharyngeal cancer (HPC). Therefore, the objective of our study was to demonstrate the relationship between the pCONUT score and the clinical outcome of patients with HPC. Patients and Methods: Ninety-four patients with HPC who underwent surgery between May 2012 and Dec 2020 were enrolled in this study. We evaluated retrospectively their pCONUT scores and calculated the cutoff value regarding the patients' overall survival using the X-tile software. Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazard regression model were used to determine how the pCONUT score affected overall survival. Results: A cutoff level of 4 was determined to be optimal for the pCONUT score, by which the patients were grouped into high pCONUT score (≥4, n = 22, 23.4%) or low pCONUT score (<4, n = 72, 76.6%) groups. The univariate analysis showed that high pCONUT scores correlated with reduced overall survival (hazard ratio: 2.925, 95% confidence interval: 1.526-5.607, P =.001). Furthermore, the multivariate analysis also showed that high pCONUT scores increased the risk of overall death (hazard ratio: 2.639, 95% confidence interval: 1.365-5.101, P =.004). Conclusions: The pCONUT score is considered a useful prognostic factor in patients with HPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nutrition has become an important parameter influencing the prognosis of several cancers. However, its impact on outcomes for bladder cancer (BC) is still unclear. This review examines the association between three commonly used nutritional indices, namely, the prognostic nutritional index (PNI), controlling nutritional status (CONUT), and the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) and outcomes of BC. Methods: PubMed, CENTRAL, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar were explored for studies published up to April 13, 2023. Data from studies were pooled to examine the association between PNI, CONUT, or GNRI and overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Results: Thirteen studies were included. Meta-analysis demonstrated significantly poor OS with low PNI versus high PNI in BC patients (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.37, 2.14; I2 = 0%). This result remained significant in various subgroup analyses. However, no association was noted between PNI and RFS (HR: 1.22; 95% CI: 0.67, 2.24; I2 = 84%). Meta-analysis showed that patients with high CONUT scores had significantly poor OS (HR: 2.43; 95% CI: 1.82, 3.25; I2 = 0%) as well as RFS (HR: 2.90; 95% CI: 2.10, 4.01; I2 = 0%). Data on GNRI were scarce and conflicting. Conclusion: Limited data show that PNI and CONUT are predictive of outcomes in BC. Low PNI was associated with poor OS, while high CONUT was associated with poor OS and RFS. Data on GNRI are too scarce to obtain conclusions. Further studies are needed to supplement the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microvascular flap surgery is a widely acknowledged procedure for significant defect reconstruction. Multiple flap complication risk factors have been identified, yet there are limited data on laboratory biomarkers for the prediction of flap loss. The controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score has demonstrated good postoperative outcome assessment ability in diverse surgical populations. We aim to assess the predictive value of the CONUT score for complications in microvascular flap surgery. This prospective cohort study includes 72 adult patients undergoing elective microvascular flap surgery. Preoperative blood draws for analysis of full blood count, total plasma cholesterol, and albumin concentrations were collected on the day of surgery before crystalloid infusion. Postoperative data on flap complications and duration of hospitalization were obtained. The overall complication rate was 15.2%. True flap loss with vascular compromise occurred in 5.6%. No differences in flap complications were found between different areas of reconstruction, anatomical flap types, or indications for surgery. Obesity was more common in patients with flap complications (p = 0.01). The CONUT score had an AUC of 0.813 (0.659–0.967, p = 0.012) for predicting complications other than true flap loss due to vascular compromise. A CONUT score > 2 was indicated as optimal during cut-off analysis (p = 0.022). Patients with flap complications had a longer duration of hospitalization (13.55, 10.99–16.11 vs. 25.38, 14.82–35.93; p = 0.004). Our findings indicate that the CONUT score has considerable predictive value in microvascular flap surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nutritional status of critically ill patients is an important factor affecting complications and mortality. This study aimed to investigate the impact of three nutritional indices, the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), and Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT), on mortality in patients with sepsis in Japan. Methods: This retrospective observational study used the Medical Data Vision database containing data from 42 acute-care hospitals in Japan. We extracted data on baseline characteristics on admission. GNRI, PNI, and CONUT scores on admission were also calculated. To evaluate the significance of these three nutritional indices on mortality, we used logistic regression to fit restricted cubic spline models and constructed Kaplan–Meier survival curves. Results: We identified 32,159 patients with sepsis according to the inclusion criteria. Of them, 1804 patients were treated in intensive care units, and 3461 patients were non-survivors. When the GNRI dropped below 100, the risk of mortality rose sharply, as did that when the PNI dropped below about 40. An increased CONUT score was associated with increased mortality in an apparent linear manner. Conclusion: In sepsis management, GNRI and PNI values may potentially be helpful in identifying patients with a high risk of death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to examine the association between the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score and adverse outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). PubMed and Embase databases were searched for eligible studies from their inceptions to December 12, 2021 to identify studies investigating the association of the CONUT score with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and all-cause mortality in CAD patients. Twelve studies (36,198 CAD) patients satisfied the criteria. Comparison of the high with low CONUT score, the pooled multivariate adjusted risk ratios (RR) was 1.78 (95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.36-2.32) for MACEs and 1.45 (95% CI 1.27–1.66) for all-cause mortality, respectively. When compared with patients with normal nutrition, malnourished (defined by the CONUT score ≥2) patients conferred a 52% increased risk of MACEs. Additionally, per point CONUT score increment was associated with 15% and 11% higher risk of MACEs and all-cause mortality, respectively. Higher CONUT score independently predicts the MACEs all-cause mortality in CAD patients. Estimation of nutritional status using the CONUT score could be helpful for improving risk classification of CAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the prognostic value of nutritional scores comprising the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score and the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), in prediction of multilevel vertebral involvement (> 2 vertebra) in Spinal Tuberculosis (STB).Retrospective analysis of 39 STB patients was conducted to assess nutritional indices (CONUT and PNI) and the numbers of vertebral affection. Spearman’s correlation was used to examine the association between these variables. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were utilized to determine optimal cutoff values, with Area Under the Curve (AUROC) evaluation. Additionally, multiple logistic regression was performed as a predictive model.There were 24 males and 15 females, with a mean BMI of 18.88 kg/m² (± 1.37). Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed negative correlations between BMI, PNI (rho − 0.68, p < 0.001) and multilevel vertebra involvement, while ESR (rho 0.83, p < 0.001), CRP (rho 0.81, p < 0.001), and CONUT score (rho 0.83, p < 0.001) positively correlated with multilevel vertebral affection (> 2 vertebra). Age and comorbidities showed no correlation with the level of vertebral affection. ROC analysis revealed a CONUT Score ≥ 3 cutoff (sensitivity-95.7%, specificity-87.5%) and PNI ≤ 38.605 (sensitivity-78.3%, specificity-93.8%) for predicting multilevel STB (> 2). PNI exhibited superior specificity and positive predictive value where as CONUT score was a better parameter for sensitivity, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy. Both CONUT score and PNI were significant predictors of vertebral involvement in univariate analysis, with multivariate analysis identifying CONUT score as the sole predictor of multilevel vertebral affection.Nutritional scores, including CONUT score and PNI, emerged as significant predictors of multilevel STB. CONUT score displayed superior sensitivity, negative predictive value, and overall diagnostic accuracy, while PNI served as a nutritional marker with high specificity and positive predictive value in predicting multilevel involvement in spinal tuberculosis.Methods: The objective of this study is to evaluate the prognostic value of nutritional scores comprising the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score and the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), in prediction of multilevel vertebral involvement (> 2 vertebra) in Spinal Tuberculosis (STB).Retrospective analysis of 39 STB patients was conducted to assess nutritional indices (CONUT and PNI) and the numbers of vertebral affection. Spearman’s correlation was used to examine the association between these variables. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were utilized to determine optimal cutoff values, with Area Under the Curve (AUROC) evaluation. Additionally, multiple logistic regression was performed as a predictive model.There were 24 males and 15 females, with a mean BMI of 18.88 kg/m² (± 1.37). Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed negative correlations between BMI, PNI (rho − 0.68, p < 0.001) and multilevel vertebra involvement, while ESR (rho 0.83, p < 0.001), CRP (rho 0.81, p < 0.001), and CONUT score (rho 0.83, p < 0.001) positively correlated with multilevel vertebral affection (> 2 vertebra). Age and comorbidities showed no correlation with the level of vertebral affection. ROC analysis revealed a CONUT Score ≥ 3 cutoff (sensitivity-95.7%, specificity-87.5%) and PNI ≤ 38.605 (sensitivity-78.3%, specificity-93.8%) for predicting multilevel STB (> 2). PNI exhibited superior specificity and positive predictive value where as CONUT score was a better parameter for sensitivity, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy. Both CONUT score and PNI were significant predictors of vertebral involvement in univariate analysis, with multivariate analysis identifying CONUT score as the sole predictor of multilevel vertebral affection.Nutritional scores, including CONUT score and PNI, emerged as significant predictors of multilevel STB. CONUT score displayed superior sensitivity, negative predictive value, and overall diagnostic accuracy, while PNI served as a nutritional marker with high specificity and positive predictive value in predicting multilevel involvement in spinal tuberculosis.Results: The objective of this study is to evaluate the prognostic value of nutritional scores comprising the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score and the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), in prediction of multilevel vertebral involvement (> 2 vertebra) in Spinal Tuberculosis (STB).Retrospective analysis of 39 STB patients was conducted to assess nutritional indices (CONUT and PNI) and the numbers of vertebral affection. Spearman’s correlation was used to examine the association between these variables. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were utilized to determine optimal cutoff values, with Area Under the Curve (AUROC) evaluation. Additionally, multiple logistic regression was performed as a predictive model.There were 24 males and 15 females, with a mean BMI of 18.88 kg/m² (± 1.37). Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed negative correlations between BMI, PNI (rho − 0.68, p < 0.001) and multilevel vertebra involvement, while ESR (rho 0.83, p < 0.001), CRP (rho 0.81, p < 0.001), and CONUT score (rho 0.83, p < 0.001) positively correlated with multilevel vertebral affection (> 2 vertebra). Age and comorbidities showed no correlation with the level of vertebral affection. ROC analysis revealed a CONUT Score ≥ 3 cutoff (sensitivity-95.7%, specificity-87.5%) and PNI ≤ 38.605 (sensitivity-78.3%, specificity-93.8%) for predicting multilevel STB (> 2). PNI exhibited superior specificity and positive predictive value where as CONUT score was a better parameter for sensitivity, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy. Both CONUT score and PNI were significant predictors of vertebral involvement in univariate analysis, with multivariate analysis identifying CONUT score as the sole predictor of multilevel vertebral affection.Nutritional scores, including CONUT score and PNI, emerged as significant predictors of multilevel STB. CONUT score displayed superior sensitivity, negative predictive value, and overall diagnostic accuracy, while PNI served as a nutritional marker with high specificity and positive predictive value in predicting multilevel involvement in spinal tuberculosis.Conclusion: The objective of this study is to evaluate the prognostic value of nutritional scores comprising the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score and the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), in prediction of multilevel vertebral involvement (> 2 vertebra) in Spinal Tuberculosis (STB).Retrospective analysis of 39 STB patients was conducted to assess nutritional indices (CONUT and PNI) and the numbers of vertebral affection. Spearman’s correlation was used to examine the association between these variables. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were utilized to determine optimal cutoff values, with Area Under the Curve (AUROC) evaluation. Additionally, multiple logistic regression was performed as a predictive model.There were 24 males and 15 females, with a mean BMI of 18.88 kg/m² (± 1.37). Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed negative correlations between BMI, PNI (rho − 0.68, p < 0.001) and multilevel vertebra involvement, while ESR (rho 0.83, p < 0.001), CRP (rho 0.81, p < 0.001), and CONUT score (rho 0.83, p < 0.001) positively correlated with multilevel vertebral affection (> 2 vertebra). Age and comorbidities showed no correlation with the level of vertebral affection. ROC analysis revealed a CONUT Score ≥ 3 cutoff (sensitivity-95.7%, specificity-87.5%) and PNI ≤ 38.605 (sensitivity-78.3%, specificity-93.8%) for predicting multilevel STB (> 2). PNI exhibited superior specificity and positive predictive value where as CONUT score was a better parameter for sensitivity, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy. Both CONUT score and PNI were significant predictors of vertebral involvement in univariate analysis, with multivariate analysis identifying CONUT score as the sole predictor of multilevel vertebral affection.Nutritional scores, including CONUT score and PNI, emerged as significant predictors of multilevel STB. CONUT score displayed superior sensitivity, negative predictive value, and overall diagnostic accuracy, while PNI served as a nutritional marker with high specificity and positive predictive value in predicting multilevel involvement in spinal tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nutritional risk is prevalent in various diseases, but its association with contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) remains unclear. This study aimed to explore this association in patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG).Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 4386 patients undergoing CAG were enrolled. Nutritional risks were estimated by nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS-2002), controlling nutritional status (CONUT), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), respectively. CI-AKI was determined by the elevation of serum creatinine (Scr). Multivariable logistic regression analyses and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analyses were conducted. Subgroup analyses were performed according to age (< 70/≥70 years), gender (male/female), percutaneous coronary intervention (with/without), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (< 60/≥60 ml/min/1.73m2).Results: Overall, 787 (17.9%) patients were diagnosed with CI-AKI. The median score of NRS-2002, CONUT, PNI, and GNRI was 1.0, 3.0, 45.8, and 98.6, respectively. Nutritional risk was proven to be associated with CI-AKI when four different nutritional tools were employed, including NRS-2002 ([3-7 vs. 0]: odds ratio [95% confidence interval], OR [95%CI] = 4.026 [2.732 to 5.932], P < 0.001), CONUT ([6-12 vs. 0-1]: OR [95%CI] = 2.230 [1.586 to 3.136], P < 0.001), PNI ([< 38 vs. ≥52]: OR [95%CI] = 2.349 [1.529 to 3.610], P < 0.001), and GNRI ([< 90 vs. ≥104]: OR [95%CI] = 1.822 [1.229 to 2.702], P = 0.003). This is consistent when subgroup analyses were performed. Furthermore, nutritional scores were proved to be accurate in predicting CI-AKI (area under ROC curve: NRS-2002, 0.625; CONUT, 0.609; PNI, 0.629; and GNRI, 0.603).Conclusions: Nutritional risks (high scores of NRS-2002 and CONUT; low scores of PNI and GNRI) were associated with CI-AKI in patients undergoing CAG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the association between malnutrition assessed by the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score and all-cause mortality in patients with heart failure. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Settings: A comprehensively literature search of PubMed and Embase databases was performed until 30 November 2020. Studies reporting the utility of CONUT score in prediction of all-cause mortality among patients with heart failure were eligible. Patients with a CONUT score ≥2 are grouped as malnourished. Predictive values of the CONUT score were summarized by pooling the multivariable-adjusted risk ratios (RR) with 95 % CI for the malnourished v. normal nutritional status or per point CONUT score increase. Participants: Ten studies involving 5196 patients with heart failure. Results: Malnourished patients with heart failure conferred a higher risk of all-cause mortality (RR 1·92; 95 % CI 1·58, 2·34) compared with the normal nutritional status. Subgroup analysis showed the malnourished patients with heart failure had an increased risk of in-hospital mortality (RR 1·78; 95 % CI 1·29, 2·46) and follow-up mortality (RR 2·01; 95 % CI 1·58, 2·57). Moreover, per point increase in CONUT score significantly increased 16% risk of all-cause mortality during the follow-up. Conclusions: Malnutrition defined by the CONUT score is an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in patients with heart failure. Assessment of nutritional status using CONUT score would be helpful for improving risk stratification of heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune-nutritional status is correlated with a clinical outcome in critical illness. Recently, controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score and prognostic nutrition index (PNI) has been reported to predict prognosis following cancer and other diseases. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between the CONUT score and PNI and 6-month outcome in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (STBI). We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 78 patients with STBI, including the CONUT score and PNI. Patients were divided into high CONUT group and low CONUT group. Patients were also divided into high PNI and low PNI group respectively. The 6-month outcome was evaluated by the modified Rankin scale (mRS). The unfavorable outcome was defined as mRS score ≥3. The unfavorable outcome group had lower Glasgow coma scale (GCS) scores, serum albumin, total cholesterol, PNI, and higher CONUT scores (P < 0.05). Both CONUT scores and PNI were strongly correlated with mRS (r = 0.429, P < 0.05; r = −0.590, P < 0.05, respectively). After adjustment for confounding factors, the odds ratios of CONUT scores and PNI for predicting unfavorable outcome were 10.478 (95% CI: 2.793–39.301) and −0.039 (95% CI: 0.008–0.204), respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) of CONUT scores for predicting unfavorable outcome was 0.777 (95% CI: 0.674–0.880, P < 0.01), which was similar to PNI (0.764, 95% CI: 0.657–0.87, P < 0.01). Both CONUT scores and PNI might be novel independent predictors of the poor outcome in STBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed to investigate the prevalence and prognostic value of malnutrition assessed by Controlling Nutritional Status score in community-acquired pneumonia patients. Methods: All adult patients admitted to our emergency department and hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia were prospectively followed-up until hospital discharge or death. Nutritional status was assessed with the Controlling Nutritional Status score, which is based on serum albumin levels, total cholesterol levels, and lymphocyte counts. The primary study endpoint was complicated hospital course defined as need for mechanical ventilation, mortality, or intensive care unit admission. Results: Three hundred and five patients (mean age 68.6 ± 11.2 years and 51.8% female) were enrolled, and 40 patients (13.1%) had complicated hospitalizations. Older patients, patients with more comorbidities, and patients with higher Controlling Nutritional Status scores on admission were tended to have a higher rate of complications during their hospitalization. Multivariate analysis showed that older age (odds ratio 2.55, 95% confidence interval 1.41–4.64, p < 0.001), presence of diabetes (odds ratio 1.54; 95% confidence interval 1.09–3.65; p = 0.004), pneumonia severity index ⩾ 3 (odds ratio 1.27, 95% confidence interval 0.524–3.725, p = 0.035), and Controlling Nutritional Status score > 4 (odds ratio 2.23, 95% confidence interval 1.129–3.657, p = 0.001) were independent predictors of complicated hospitalizations. Conclusion: Malnutrition determined by Controlling Nutritional Status score predicts complications in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Previous studies have demonstrated the usefulness of the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score in nutritional assessment and survival prediction of patients with various malignancies. However, its value in advanced gastric cancer (GC) treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and curative gastrectomy remains unclear. Materials and Methods: The CONUT score at different time points (pretreatment, preoperative, and postoperative) of 272 patients with advanced GC were retrospectively calculated from August 2004 to October 2015. The χ² test or Mann-Whitney U test was used to estimate the relationships between the CONUT score and clinical characteristics as well as short-term outcomes, while the Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate long-term outcomes. Survival curves were estimated by using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Results: The proportion of moderate or severe malnutrition among all patients was not significantly changed from pretreatment (13.5%) to pre-operation (11.7%) but increased dramatically postoperatively (47.5%). The pretreatment CONUT-high score (≥4) was significantly associated with older age (P=0.010), deeper tumor invasion (P=0.025), and lower pathological complete response rate (CONUT-high vs. CONUT-low: 1.2% vs. 6.6%, P=0.107). Pretreatment CONUT-high score patients had worse progression-free survival (P=0.032) and overall survival (OS) (P=0.026). Adjusted for pathologic node status, the pretreatment CONUT-high score was strongly associated with worse OS in pathologic nodepositive patients (P=0.039). Conclusions: The pretreatment CONUT score might be a straightforward index for immunenutritional status assessment, while being a reliable prognostic indicator in patients with advanced GC receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy and curative gastrectomy. Moreover, lower pretreatment CONUT scores might indicate better chemotherapy responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) Score, originally developed as a nutritional screening tool, is a cumulative score calculated from the serum albumin level, total cholesterol level, and total lymphocyte count. Previous studies have demonstrated that the score has significant prognostic value in various malignancies. We investigated the relationship between the CONUT score and long-term survival in obstructive colorectal cancer (OCRC) patients who underwent self-expandable metallic colonic stent placement and subsequently received curative surgery. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 57 pathological stage II and III OCRC patients between 2013 and 2019. The associations between the preoperative CONUT score and clinicopathological factors and patient survival were evaluated. Results: A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the optimal cut-off value for the CONUT score was 7. A CONUT score of ≥ 7 was significantly associated with elevated CA19-9 level (p = 0.03). Multivariate analyses revealed that a CONUT score of ≥ 7 was independently associated with cancer-specific survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 10.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–85.9, p = 0.03) and disease-free survival (HR = 7.1, 95% CI 2.3–21.7, p = 0.0006). Conclusion: The results demonstrated that the CONUT score was a potent prognostic indicator. Evaluating the CONUT score might result in more precise patient assessment and tailored treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study evaluated whether the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score could predict clinical outcomes in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients.Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of STEMI patients after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). The endpoint was major adverse cardiac event (MACE). Information was obtained from medical records and via telephone calls. Patients were divided into three groups: normal (CONUT score 0-1; n=278), mild-moderate (score 2-4; n=418), and severe (score ≥5; n=55) groups.Results: During the 24.6±12 months follow-up, MACEs were observed in 65 (8.7%) patients. The incidence of MACEs was 6.1%, 5.5%, and 45.5% in the normal, mild-moderate, and severe group, respectively (p<0.001). Kaplan-Meier curves revealed that patients with a CONUT score ≥5 had the significantly highest rate of MACE, myocardial re-infarction, and vessel revascularisation. In three Cox proportional hazard models, the CONUT scores were unexceptionally associated with MACE, even after adjusting all other variables (hazard ratio, 12.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.09-28.7; p<0.001). The C-statistic of the CONUT score for the prediction of MACE was 0.692 (95% CI, 0.613-0.771; p<0.001), which is close to that of Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events.Conclusions: The nutritional status evaluated by the CONUT score can independently predict clinical outcomes in STEMI patients, which suggests that active nutritional management is meaningful for these patients after PCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effects of three nutritional scoring systems: Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT), and Naples Prognostic Score (NPS) on the short- or long-term prognosis of gastric cancer (GC) patients who underwent radical gastrectomy.Methods: The clinicopathological data of 2182 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy at the Fujian Medical University Union Hospital (FMUUH) from 2009 to 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The effects of the PNI, CONUT, and NPS on the short- or long-term prognosis of GC patients were analyzed.Results: Overall, 359 (16.5%) patients had postoperative complications. There was no significant association between the PNI, CONUT, and NPS and postoperative complications (P > 0.05); however, high CONUT and NPS were significantly associated with severe postoperative complications (P < 0.05). Univariate analysis showed that PNI, CONUT, and NPS were all associated with overall survival (OS) (P < 0.001). However, multivariate analysis showed that only PNI was an independent risk factor for OS (P = 0.004), and the 5-year OS rate in the low PNI group was significantly lower than that in the normal PNI group (55.5% vs 75.4%, P < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) and the c-index of PNI were significantly higher than those of CONUT and NPS. The prognostic efficiency of combining PNI and TNM stage was also significantly better than that of TNM staging alone (P < 0.05).Conclusion: The current study demonstrated that CONUT and NPS are important for assessing the risk of severe postoperative complications. However, PNI is an independent risk factor for the long-term prognosis of GC patients who underwent radical gastrectomy and can improve the prognostic efficiency of TNM staging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The immuno-nutritional status is closely related to the prognosis in many cancers. Controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score is a new parameter that reflects the immuno-nutritional status and is prognostic in some cancers. However, the prognostic significance of the CONUT score in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is unknown. We aimed to demonstrate the prognostic significance of the CONUT score in patients with SCLC. Methods: Two hundred sixteen patients who were followed up with SCLC were included in the study retrospectively. According to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the optimal cutoff values were determined for the CONUT score, and the patients were divided into low (< 2) and high (≥ 2) CONUT groups. Neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) were grouped based on a cutoff point 2.84, 626, and 46.1, respectively. Cox regression analyses were used to assess their prognostic values for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: The high CONUT group had significantly worse PFS and OS than the low CONUT group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001). In univariate analysis, stage, prophylactic cranial irradiation, extrapulmonary lesion, PNI, body mass index, CONUT score were found to be significant for both PFS and OS. In multivariate analysis, only CONUT score and stage were found as independent prognostic factors for both PFS (p: 0.018, p: 0.046) and OS (p: 0.038, p: 0.006). Conclusion: The CONUT score at the time of diagnosis is an independent prognostic parameter that predicts recurrence and survival times in SCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score is a newly developed laboratory‐derived immunonutritional score which has been validated as prognostic marker for survival and tumor recurrence in surgically treated patients with various tumor types, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of the present study was to test the CONUT score performance in HCC patients treated with liver transplantation (LT). Methods: A retrospective study on a bi‐centers cohort of 280 HCC patients submitted to LT between 2006 and 2017 was performed. Indication to LT was limited to Milan criteria or UCSF criteria, defined by preoperative imaging. Results: Median pre‐LT CONUT score was 5 (interquartile range 3‐7). Overall patients' survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was 84%, 76.6%, and 68.3%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that HCC recurrence (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.987, P =.012] and pre‐LT neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (HR = 1.064, P =.003) were independent risk factors for reduced survival. Cumulative incidence of HCC recurrence at 1, 3, and 5 years was 5.1%, 11.5%, and 15.5%, respectively. Pre‐LT platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR) (subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR] = 1.086, P =.044], tumor max diameter (SHR = 1.695, P <.001), and bilobar tumor distribution (SHR = 6.892, P =.006) were independent risk factors for tumor recurrence. The CONUT score did not show any prognostic value. Conclusions: The CONUT score did not predict poor survival or tumor recurrence in LT recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: There is increasing evidence that inflammation‐based prognostic scores are stage‐independent predictors of poor outcome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, these findings were observed in a small‐sized study comparing the prognostic value of these scores for patients after curative resection for HCC. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 717 consecutive patients with HCC who underwent curative liver resection at Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital & Atomic Bomb Survivors Hospital. Clinicopathological variables including preoperative inflammation‐based prognostic scores, such as neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, Controlling Nutritional Status score, prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and Glasgow Prognostic Score were analyzed. The prognostic value of these scores was compared by the time‐dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analyses. Results: The integrate area under the curve of PNI, Controlling Nutritional Status score, neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, and Glasgow Prognostic Score were 0.6751, 0.6435, 0.5845, 0.5276, and 0.5351 for overall survival (OS), respectively, and 0.5955, 0.5694, 0.4692, 0.4873, and 0.5272 for disease‐free survival, respectively. Multivariate analyses for prognosis factor in HCC patients showed that PNI was an independent predictor of both OS (HR 0.91, P < 0.001) and disease‐free survival (HR 0.94, P < 0.001). When the patients were divided into high and low PNI groups, the patients in the low PNI group had significant poorer OS (P < 0.001) and disease‐free survival (P < 0.001), even after background factors were matched between these two groups. Conclusions: PNI is superior to Controlling Nutritional Status score, neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, or Glasgow Prognostic Score as a predictor of OS and recurrence‐free survival in patients with HCC who underwent curative hepatic resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We retrospectively evaluated the impact of pretransplantation inflammatory and nutritional status, using such measures as the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score, Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), and C-reactive protein-albumin ratio (CAR), on survival, as well as nonrelapse mortality, relapse, engraftment, and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)in 165 adult recipients of myeloablative single cord blood transplantation. • A higher CONUT score, which is indicative of poor inflammatory and nutritional status, was significantly associated with poor outcomes, including low neutrophil engraftment and development of extensive chronic GVHD. • A higher CAR, which is also suggestive of poor inflammatory and nutritional status, was significantly associated with poor neutrophil engraftment and higher overall mortality. • Body mass index was not associated with transplantation outcomes. Markers of inflammatory and nutritional status, such as the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score, Prognostic Nutritional Index, Glasgow Prognostic Score, and C-reactive protein-albumin ratio (CAR) has been demonstrated to be associated with poor prognosis in patients with various cancers. Although the relatively low cell dose of a single cord blood unit restricts the indication for cord blood transplantation (CBT) to pediatric and relatively smaller and lighter adult patients, the impact of malnutrition on outcomes after CBT is unclear. We retrospectively analyzed 165 adult patients who underwent myeloablative single-unit CBT in our institute. In multivariate analysis, a higher CONUT score, which is indicative of poor inflammatory and nutritional status, was significantly associated with poor outcomes, including low neutrophil engraftment and development of extensive chronic graft-versus-host disease. A higher CAR, which is also suggestive of poor inflammatory and nutritional status, was significantly associated with poor neutrophil engraftment and higher overall mortality. Body mass index (BMI) was not associated with transplantation outcomes. These data suggest that poor pretransplantation inflammatory and nutritional status might be a more practical parameter than lower BMI, for predicting transplantation outcomes after single CBT for adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Pneumonia ranks high among the causes of death worldwide. However, the predictive values of activities of daily living, the nutrition index and the aspiration index measured objectively remain unclear. The present study aimed to examine the associations of activity, nutrition and dysphagia with pneumonia. Methods: We assessed 992 hospitalized patients. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the predictors of pneumonia. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the cut‐off values of variables. Kaplan–Meier and Cox hazards regression analyses were used to examine the incidence of pneumonia and the factors associated with pneumonia. Results: We finally enrolled 393 inpatients. Of the 393 patients, 102 (26.0%) had pneumonia. On logistic regression analysis, age, Functional Independence Measure (FIM)‐motor score and Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA) score were independent predictors of pneumonia. The FIM‐motor and MASA cut‐off values were 19.5 (area under the curve 0.83, P < 0.01) and 170.5 (area under the curve 0.82, P < 0.01), respectively. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that the no pneumonia rate was significantly lower among patients with FIM‐motor scores <20 than among those with FIM‐motor scores ≥20 (log–rank test, P < 0.01), and was significantly lower among patients with MASA scores <171 than among those with MASA scores ≥171 (log–rank test, P < 0.01). Cox regression analysis showed that FIM‐motor (hazard ratio 0.97, P = 0.009) and MASA scores (hazard ratio 0.99, P < 0.01) were significantly associated with pneumonia. Conclusions: In addition to the infectious risk, the FIM‐motor and MASA scales are useful tools to predict the development of pneumonia in older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 1620–1624. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pretreatment controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score is a novel index which was used to predict outcomes in cancer patients. We aim to explore the prognostic significance of CONUT score in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). Patients and methods: A total of 662 UTUC patients between 2004 and 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were categorized into three groups based on CONUT score (Normal: 0‐1; Light: 2‐4; Moderate/severe: 5‐12). Associations of CONUT score with oncological outcomes were analyzed using Logistic and Cox regression analysis. Harrell concordance index was used to assess the predictive accuracy of the multivariate models. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to tumor grade and stage. Results: The median follow‐up duration was 41 months. Multivariate Logistic analysis showed that high CONUT score was independently associated with high‐grade disease, high pT stage, lymphovascular invasion, sessile carcinoma, variant histology, and positive surgical margins (each P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that CONUT score 5‐12 was an independent factor for worse cancer‐specific survival (CSS, hazard ratio [HR]:2.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.55‐3.68, P < 0.0001), disease recurrence‐free‐survival (RFS, HR: 1.80, 95% CI 1.24‐2.60, P = 0.002), and overall survival (OS, HR: 2.26, 95% CI 1.53‐3.34, P < 0.0001). The estimated c‐index of the multivariate models for CSS, RFS, and OS increased from 0.755, 0.715 and 0.745 to 0.772, 0.723, and 0.756 when CONUT score supplemented. Subgroup analyses showed that especially in patients with high‐grade carcinoma and advanced stage (≥pT3), higher CONUT score predicts decreased CSS, RFS, and OS (all P < 0.05). Conclusion: Preoperative CONUT score is a negative independent prognostic indicator for both pathologic and survival outcomes in UTUC, especially in those with high‐grade carcinoma and advanced stage. Adding this parameter into our clinical prediction model is appropriate so as to improve its predictive accuracy. CONUT score independently predicted worse survival in UTUC patients, especially in patients with high‐grade disease and advanced stage. The addition of CONUT score would improve the predictive accuracy of the multivariate models for survival outcomes. We therefore suggest adding the CONUT score to the traditional predictive model and to the risk stratifications of patients with UTUC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In recent years, the establishment of new staging systems for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been reported worldwide. The system combining albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) with tumor-node-metastasis stage, developed by the Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan, was called the ALBI-T score. Methods Patient data were retrospectively collected for 357 consecutive patients who had undergone hepatic resection for HCC with curative intent between January 2004 and December 2015. The overall survival and recurrence-free survival were compared by the Kaplan-Meier method, using different staging systems: the Japan integrated staging (JIS), modified JIS, and ALBI-T. Results Multivariate analysis identified five poor prognostic factors (higher age, poor differentiation, the presence of microvascular invasion, the presence of intrahepatic metastasis, and blood transfusion) that influenced overall survival, and four poor prognostic factors (the presence of intrahepatic metastasis, serum α-fetoprotein level, blood transfusion, and each staging system (JIS, modified JIS, and ALBI-T score)) that influenced recurrence-free survival. Patients for each these three staging system had a significantly worse prognosis regarding recurrence-free survival, but not with overall survival. The modified JIS score showed the lowest Akaike information criteria statistic value, indicating it had the best ability to predict overall survival compared with the other staging systems. Conclusions This retrospective analysis showed that, in post-hepatectomy patients with HCC, the ALBI-T score is predictive of worse recurrence-free survival, even when adjustments are made for other known predictors. However, modified JIS is better than ALBI-T in predicting overall survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a need to identify potentially useful biomarker(s) for the prediction of prognostic outcomes in patients diagnosed with gastric cancer. This meta-analysis provided updated evidence on the association of controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score with survival and other clinicopathological outcomes in patients with gastric cancer. PubMed and Scopus databases were systematically searched. The review included studies, observational in design, that were conducted among patients with gastric cancer and had documented the association of CONUT score with outcomes of interest. The primary outcomes of interest were overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) along with tumour size and extent (T status), nodal status (N status) and tumour staging (TNM staging). STATA was used for statistical analysis. The meta-analysis was conducted with 17 studies. The 5-year OS [hazard ratio (HR), 1.75; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.55, 1.96], RFS (HR, 1.58; 95% CI: 1.30, 1.91) and CSS (HR, 1.89; 95% CI: 1.01, 3.52) were comparatively poorer in the high CONUT group, than in low CONUT group. High CONUT score was associated with increased risk of having T3/T4 tumour [odds ratio (OR), 1.64; 95% CI: 1.16, 2.34], N2/N3 nodal status (OR, 1.44; 95% CI: 1.17, 1.77) and stage III/IV tumour (OR, 1.64; 95% CI: 1.43, 1.88). The risk of microvascular invasion (OR, 1.46; 95% CI: 1.20, 1.77) and post-operative complications (OR, 1.64; 95% CI: 1.31, 2.06) was higher in those with high CONUT. There were no differences in the risk of poorly differentiated tumour and need for adjuvant chemotherapy between the two groups. Findings suggested that preoperative assessment of CONUT score may be included in the routine assessment of patients with gastric cancer due to its association with survival and other clinical as well as pathological outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although the significance of preoperative nutritional status has been investigated, there is no report regarding the relationship of their postoperative changes on outcomes in patients who underwent radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. Here, we report the clinical impact of the change, from baseline, in nutritional status and volume of abdominal skeletal muscle mass and adipose tissue after radical cystetomy.Methods: A retrospective analysis of 89 patients with bladder cancer, who underwent curative radical cystectomy, was conducted to assess the time course of change, from baseline, in body composition and nutritional status at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, after surgery. Skeletal muscle mass and abdominal adipose tissue mass were quantified by unenhanced computed tomography images. Two different nutritional indices, the Prognostic Nutritional Index and the Controlling Nutritional Status score were calculated from laboratory blood tests. We evaluated the prognostic value of the rate of change in the body composition and nutritional status after radical cystectomy.Results: The cross-sectional area at the level of the third lumbar vertebra of the psoas major muscle and nutritional indices showed a transient deterioration at 1 and 3 months after radical cystectomy, with a return to baseline values from 6 to 24 months. A ≤ -10% loss in the area of the psoas muscle was associated with a shorter overall survival, compared to those with a > -10 change [hazard ratio (HR) 2.2, P = 0.02]. Multivariate analyzes identified sarcopenia status at baseline (HR 2.2, P = 0.03) and a ≤ -10% loss in the psoas muscle (HR 2.4, P = 0.02) were identified as independent prognostic factors for overall survival. A subanalysis of patients without sarcopenia identified a worse survival outcome for patients with a ≤ -10% loss in the psoas muscle (HR 2.6, P = 0.03) and ≤ - 5 change in the Prognostic Nutritional Index (HR 3.6, P = 0.01).Conclusion: Further research is required to establish appropriate rehabilitation protocols and nutritional interventions after radical cystectomy for maintaining skeletal muscle mass and nutrition status which could counteract physical deterioration and improve outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score on survival compared with the platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS) in patients with resectable thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).Methods: One hundred eighty-five consecutive patients who underwent subtotal esophagectomy with curative intent for resectable thoracic ESCC were retrospectively reviewed. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analyses for 3-year overall survival (OS) as the endpoint were performed, and the maximal Youden indices were calculated to assess discrimination ability and to determine the appropriate cut-off values of CONUT, PLR, and NLR. The patients were then classified into high and low groups based on these cut-off values. Correlations between CONUT and other clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed. Prognostic factors predicting overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models.Results: The areas under the curve predicting 3-year OS were 0.603 for CONUT, 0.561 for PLR, 0.564 for NLR, and 0.563 for GPS. The optimal cut-off values were two for the CONUT score, 193 for PLR, and 3.612 for NLR. The high-CONUT group was significantly associated with lower BMI, high-PLR, high-NLR, and GPS1/2 groups. On univariate analysis, high-CONUT, high-PLR, high-NLR, and GPS 1/2 groups were significantly associated with poorer OS and RFS. Of these factors, multivariate analysis revealed that only the CONUT score was an independent prognostic factor for OS (HR 2.303, 95 % CI 1.191-4.455; p = 0.013) and RFS (HR 2.163, 95 % CI 1.139-4.109; p = 0.018).Conclusions: The CONUT score was an independent predictor of OS and RFS before treatment and was superior to PLR, NLR, and GPS in terms of predictive ability for prognosis in patients with resectable thoracic ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: In patients with chronic liver disease who are at risk of malnutrition, simple and useful assessments for nutritional status should be established for ordinary medical care. The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and controlling nutritional status (CONUT) are simple assessments constructed of only two or three laboratory data. We aimed to describe the potential of PNI and CONUT as a nutritional assessment tool in patients with chronic liver disease. Methods: We enrolled 165 patients, aged 18-85 years, with chronic liver disease. These patients were nutritionally assessed by PNI or CONUT, demonstrating the association with the severity of chronic liver disease or anthropometric values. Results: The value of PNI or CONUT was significantly associated with the severity of chronic liver disease ( P < 0.001, respectively). In addition, the value of CONUT was significantly associated with all the anthropometric values such as body mass index (BMI, P < 0.05), mid-arm circumference (AC, P < 0.001), mid-arm muscle circumference (AMC, P < 0.001), and triceps skinfold thickness (TSF, P < 0.001), whereas the value of PNI was significantly associated with the values of AC ( P < 0.01), AMC ( P < 0.05) and TSF ( P < 0.05). Approximately 80% of cirrhotic patients were assessed by PNI or CONUT to have obvious malnutrition. Conclusion: PNI and CONUT are potential tools for nutritional assessment in patients with chronic liver disease, especially for ordinary medical care, because of their simplicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Inflammatory biomarkers have a strong prognostic value in surgically treated patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the underlying pathogenic mechanism has not been completely clarified. Conversely, nutritional biomarkers predict the outcomes after hepatic resection for HCC but not after liver transplantation (LT). Indeed, the impact of LT on the recipient's nutritional status is heterogeneous, while the data on the patient's outcome after LT in terms of inflammatory status are limited. Therefore, to address these unsolved questions, we conducted a retrospective analysis on 324 HCC patients treated with LT, exploring the postoperative trend up to 1 year post-LT and the prognostic value of the Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT), Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI). It was found that at 1 year post-LT, the nutritional status of liver-transplanted HCC patients significantly improved while their inflammatory state tended to persist. Consequently, post-LT PLR and NLR maintained a prognostic value for LT outcome while post-LT CONUT and PNI acquired it. Preoperative inflammatory biomarkers such as the Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) and the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) strongly predict the outcome in surgically treated patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), while nutritional biomarkers such as the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) and the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) show an analogue prognostic value in hepatic resection (HR) but not in liver transplant (LT) cases. Data on the impact of LT on the inflammatory and nutritional/metabolic function are heterogeneous. Therefore, we investigated the post-LT trend of these biomarkers up to postoperative month (POM) 12 in 324 HCC patients treated with LT. Inflammatory biomarkers peaked in the early post-LT period but at POM 3 leveled off at values similar (NLR) or higher (PLR) than pre-LT ones. CONUT and PNI worsened in the early post-LT period, but at POM 3 they stabilized at significantly better values than pre-LT. In LT recipients with an overall survival >1 year and no evidence of early HCC recurrence, 1 year post-LT NLR and PNI independently predicted patient overall survival, while 1 year post-LT PLR independently predicted late tumor recurrence. In conclusion, at 1 year post-LT, the nutritional status of liver-transplanted HCC patients significantly improved while their inflammatory state tended to persist. Consequently, post-LT PLR and NLR maintained a prognostic value for LT outcome while post-LT CONUT and PNI acquired it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Esophageal cancer tends to be malnourished due to anorexia, transit disorder, so it is important to conduct sufficient nutritional assessment and treatment. For standard treatment of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for esophageal cancer, Cisplatin + 5-fluorouracil (FP) therapy is common, but sufficient therapeutic effect has not been obtained. As a more powerful regimen, DCF therapy with Docetaxel added to FP therapy and chemoradiotherapy have been introduced. In this study, we examined pretreatment nutritional score of esophageal cancer patients who underwent neoadjuvant therapy. Methods We studied 105 patients undergoing preoperative treatment diagnosed as esophageal cancer or esophagogastric junctional carcinoma from July 2012 to August 2017. Esophagectomy with lymph node dissection after neoadjuvant therapy. Relationship between Glassgow Prognostic Score (GPS) and Controlling Nutrition Status Score (CONUT) score, sex, age, staging, main tumor location, adverse event, postoperative complication and tube feeding nutrition are examined. Results Median age was 66 years, male/female = 92/13, and cases requiring tube feeding were 29 cases. The breakdown of the clinical stage is Stage IA, B/IIA, B/IIIA, B, C/IV = 9/34/50/12. The breakdown of neoadjuvant therapy is FP/DCF/FPRT/DCFRT/other = 9/27/26/39/4. The incidences of grade 3/4 adverse events during preoperative treatment were 66 cases (63%) in 105 patients. The treatment effect is CR/PR/SD/PD = 6/41/50/8. Histopathological result is Grade 0/1a/1b/2/3 = 3/52/13/6/31. Postoperative complications were Clavien-Dindo classification Grade IIIa or more in 20 cases, in-hospital death was 1 case.CONUT score was judged to be cut-off by more than 2, there was a significant relationship between presence of tube nutrition and treatment result (P  = 0.0376, 0.0231). GPS was judged to be 1 or more cutoff, there was a significant association with tube nutrition availability and histopathological result (P  = 0.0019, 0.0083). There was no significant difference between occurrence of adverse events and occurrence of postoperative complications. Conclusion It was suggested that CONUTscore and GPS at hospitalization are useful as predictors of treatment result and histopathological result in esophageal cancer patients who undergo neoadjuvant therapy. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]