An exploration of the value of NLR, PLR, LMR, and WBC × CRP for the diagnosis and treatment of influenza B in adults.

The aim of the study was to study the diagnostic and therapeutic utility of NLR (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio), LWR (lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio), PLR (platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio), and WBC × CRP (WBC: white cell count, CRP: C-reactive protein) in patients with influenza B. This retrospective study included 122 adult patients with influenza B, 176 adult patients with bacterial infection, and 119 adult healthy physical examinees for routine blood examination and CRP testing, calculation of NLR, LMR, PLR, and WBC × CRP for relevant statistical analysis, monitoring of NLR, LMR, PLR and WBC × CRP in patients with influenza B during relevant treatment. All indicators, except for WBC and NLR, had no statistical differences between the influenza B group, the normal control group, and the influenza B group and bacterial infection group, respectively, and showed no statistical significance for the differences between the groups. The diagnostic effect of LMR and WBC × CRP was deemed good or excellent in patients with influenza B, healthy people, and patients with a bacterial infection. Conversely, NLR and PLR could only distinguish patients with influenza B from healthy people but remained unable to identify different pathogens. Moreover, many false negatives were noted for WBC and CRP during the diagnosis of influenza B. Also, NLR, LMR, PLR, and WBC × CRP exerted a good effect in evaluating curative effect and conditions for influenza B. LMR and WBC × CRP have a relatively high value in the early diagnosis of adults suffering from influenza B. Also, NLR and PLR excelled at differentiating adult patients with influenza B from healthy people. Therefore, NLR, PLR, LMR, and WBC × CRP can all be used for disease course monitoring and efficacy evaluation.
Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose.
(Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)