Hülya TOSUN SÖNER, Serdar SÖNER, Meral ERDAL ERBATUR, Mehmet ÖZBEK
The European Research Journal - 2026;12(4):479-487
Objectives: Preoperative malnutrition has been associated with higher rates of morbidity and death, longer hospital admissions, and a worse quality of life after surgery. This study aimed to examine the association between the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) and the duration of hospitalization, in-hospital, and 1-year all-cause mortality among patients having surgery on metallic prosthetic mitral valves. Methods: The study retrospectively included 90 consecutive patients with metallic prosthetic mitral valve surgery at Dicle University Hospital between January 2021 and December 2023. Patients were split into two groups based on the median length of stay in the hospital (14 days). Those who stayed >=14 days were included in the longer in-hospital stay group (53 patients), and those who stayed <14 days were included in the shorter in-hospital stay group (37 patients). Results: The study included patients aged 52.3+/-15.2 years, 48.9% (n=44) female. Patients with longer hospital stays had wider left atrial diameters, lower albumin levels, and lower PNI values (34.7+/-6.1 vs. 38+/-4, P=0.002). Inotropic support was more frequent in this group (18.9% vs. 2.7%, P=0.021). ROC analysis identified PNI <37.2 as predictive of prolonged stays (AUC=0.653, P=0.014). Logistic regression analysis revealed significant associations between prolonged stays and inotropic support, left atrial diameter, albumin, CRP, and PNI values. PNI also predicted in-hospital and 1-year all-cause mortality. Conclusions: PNI was associated with hospital stay duration, in-hospital, and 1-year all-cause mortality in patients undergoing metallic prosthetic mitral valve surgery. Incorporating PNI into routine preoperative evaluation may enhance perioperative management and outcomes.
