ABSTRACT Rationale Cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterised by chronic inflammation and malnutrition, significantly affecting disease progression and prognosis. The haemoglobin‐albumin‐lymphocyte‐platelet (HALP) score reflects inflammatory and nutritional status, and has prognostic associations in various chronic diseases; its role in paediatric CF is unclear. Objective To evaluate the association between HALP measured during clinical stability and (i) baseline disease severity at the index assessment (FEV 1 , MSKS, and BMI z‐score), and (ii) subsequent 12‐month outcomes (hospitalisation‐requiring pulmonary exacerbations, PICU admission, and mortality) in children with CF. Methods Retrospective single‐centre cohort study of 152 children with CF aged 2–18 years. HALP was calculated at clinical stability. Associations with index severity and 12‐month outcomes were analysed; logistic regression for low FEV 1 was restricted to participants with acceptable spirometry. Results Lower HALP was associated with low FEV 1 (< 70% predicted) at the index assessment ( p < 0.001) and with a higher 12‐month burden of hospitalisation ‐requiring pulmonary exacerbations ( p < 0.001). PICU admission and mortality were infrequent and analysed exploratorily; HALP was lower in these groups (PICU p < 0.001; mortality p = 0.004). In adjusted logistic regression among participants with spirometry ( n = 101), HALP remained associated with low FEV 1 , although the effect size was modest and precision limited (adjusted OR 0.886, 95% CI 0.788–0.996; p = 0.043). Conclusions HALP, reflecting nutritional and inflammatory status, may offer prognostic information in paediatric CF. Calculation from routine blood tests could make it a practical tool for identifying higher‐risk individuals and informing clinical decision‐making. Further large‐scale studies are needed to validate its clinical utility in CF management.
Özkaya et al. (Thu,) studied this question.