Evaluation of the relationship between the hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, platelet score, and clinical prognosis in patients with acute pancreatitis in the emergency department

OBJECTIVES: In acute pancreatitis (AP), the variable clinical course and high mortality have led to the use of complex and time-consuming scoring systems. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score in predicting mortality and intensive care unit (ICU) admission in patients with AP, and to compare it with the Atlanta classification and the Bedside Index for Severity in AP (BISAP). METHODS: This single-center retrospective study included 455 patients diagnosed with AP. Demographic data, laboratory findings, and clinical course of the patients were recorded, and HALP, BISAP, and Atlanta classification scores were calculated. RESULTS: The Atlanta classification showed the highest predictive accuracy for both mortality and ICU admission (mortality: sensitivity 91%, specificity 96%; ICU admission: sensitivity 77%, specificity 99%). The HALP score demonstrated a moderate predictive ability for both mortality (sensitivity = 0.64; specificity = 0.79) and ICU admission (sensitivity = 0.74; specificity = 0.67). The sensitivity of the HALP score was significantly higher than that of the BISAP score for both outcomes ( P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Although the HALP score has a lower overall predictive power compared to the Atlanta and BISAP scores, its higher sensitivity and easily calculable structure compared to the BISAP score suggest that it may serve as a supportive tool for early prognostic assessment of AP patients in emergency department settings.