The relationship between hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet score and mortality in non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has a high mortality rate, emphasizing the need for reliable preoperative prognostic tools. Recent studies have focused on markers that reflect both inflammatory and nutritional status. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score in predicting postoperative outcomes in NSCLC patients. This retrospective observational study included patients diagnosed with NSCLC who underwent curative surgery between January 1, 2019, and January 1, 2024. Preoperative HALP scores were calculated from routine blood tests to assess their potential as independent predictors of survival and long-term outcomes. The study cohort comprised 238 patients, divided into 2 groups: survivors (n = 153, 64.3%) and deceased patients (n = 85, 35.7%). The median HALP score was significantly lower in the deceased group (31.2) compared to survivors (52.3; P < .001). Follow-up duration was also significantly shorter in the deceased group (median 22 months) compared to survivors (median 34 months; P < .001). In the Cox univariate analysis, age ≥ 65 years (hazard ratio HR 2.02, 95% confidence intervals CI 1.32–3.1, P = .002), positive surgical margins (HR 3.04, 95% CI 1.61–5.76, P = .003), and low HALP scores (HR 5.17, 95% CI 3.33–8.03, P < .001) were significantly associated with decreased survival. However, in the multivariate analysis, positive surgical margins (HR 2.74, 95% CI 1.35–5.56, P = .005) and low HALP scores (HR 5.80, 95% CI 3.6–9.3, P < .001) remained independent predictors of decreased survival, while age ≥ 65 years did not retain significance. These findings suggest that positive surgical margins and low HALP scores are key prognostic factors for survival in NSCLC patients. The HALP score was identified as an independent predictor of postoperative mortality in NSCLC patients. Lower scores were significantly associated with higher mortality, indicating its potential use in both risk assessment and guiding postoperative management.