Association between HALP score and in-hospital outcomes in patients with acute kidney injury: a retrospective cohort study

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a prevalent clinical syndrome among hospitalized patients, affecting 20–30% of inpatients, with mortality rates exceeding 50% in ICU settings. The HALP score (hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet), a composite biomarker reflecting inflammatory and nutritional status, has shown prognostic value across various conditions, while the application of the HALP score in AKI remains underexplored. In this study, a total of 1,005 patients with AKI were included. Fine-Gray competing risk models were employed for the primary analysis, with the robustness of the findings assessed through cumulative incidence function (CIF) curves and sensitivity analyses. After adjusting for confounders, a higher HALP score was significantly associated with partial recovery and complete recovery. The Q4 group also demonstrated the lowest cumulative risk of therapy cessation (Day 21: 11.0%), with significantly reduced risks observed in Q3 (SHR 0.66) and Q4 (SHR 0.39). Taken together, the HALP score is significantly associated with renal recovery and therapy cessation in patients with AKI and may serve as a convenient tool for risk stratification, thereby complementing personalized treatment decisions.