Comparison of the Predictive Value of CRP/Albumin, CRP/Prealbumin, and the Clinical Frailty Scale for Mortality in Geriatric Intensive Care Patients.

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP)/prealbumin and CRP/albumin ratios, Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) scores, and short-term (first 3 days) and long-term (28 days) mortality in geriatric patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit. Methods: After obtaining ethical approval and informed consent, 213 patients aged 65 years and older were included. Patients discharged within 24 hours, those discharged and readmitted during the study period, those receiving routine albumin replacement, and patients with cirrhosis or undergoing chronic dialysis were excluded. Demographic characteristics, admission diagnoses, chronic comorbidities, frailty scores at admission, and laboratory values, including albumin, prealbumin, and CRP levels measured within the first 24 hours were recorded. Results: The study population comprised 97 (45.5%) female and 116 (54.5%) male patients, with a mean age of 78.8 years. The most common diagnosis was septicemia (56.33%), and the most prevalent comorbidities were hypertension (65.25%), malignancy (35.6%) and diabetes (34.7%). Both CRP/prealbumin and CRP/albumin ratios were higher in patients who experienced early and late mortality. Frailty scores did not differ in cases of early mortality; however, patients with higher frailty scores were more likely to experience long-term mortality. Additionally, the length of intensive care unit stay was longer in patients with a frailty score ≥7 compared to those with a score ≤6. Conclusion: The CFS, CRP/prealbumin, and CRP/albumin ratios are valuable predictors of long-term mortality in older patients receiving intensive care.