Predictive value of admission levels of IL-6 and PCT combined with the peri-treatment change in NLR (NLR) for hospital length of stay in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD)

Key Points

• Prolonged hospitalization is predicted by the combination of IL-6, PCT, and ΔNLR in AECOPD patients.
• A model incorporating these biomarkers shows superior predictive ability compared to using them individually.
• Assessment using routine clinical data enhances the ability to identify high-risk AECOPD patients early.
• Optimal resource allocation can be achieved through effective risk stratification with these biomarkers.