Prognostic Value of Procalcitonin/Albumin Ratio in Patients with Severe Community Acquired Pneumonia

Asma  Riaz; Muhammad  Tanveer; Muhammad Altaf

doi:10.51253/pafmj.v76iSUPPL-6.13950

Authors

Asma Riaz Department of Medicine, Combined Military Hospital, Gujranwala/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan
Muhammad Tanveer Department of Medicine, Combined Military Hospital, Gujranwala/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan
Muhammad Altaf Department of Medicine, Combined Military Hospital, Gujranwala/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v76iSUPPL-6.13950

Keywords:

Albumin, CURB-65, Hospital Mortality, Pneumonia, Procalcitonin, Severity of Illness

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of procalcitonin to albumin ratio (PAR) in predicting in-hospital mortality among patients presenting with severe community acquired pneumonia (CAP), using mortality outcomes as a reference standard.

Study Design: Cross-Sectional Validation Study.

Place and Duration of Study: Intensive Care Unit, Department of Medicine, Combined Military Hospital Gujranwala, Pakistan from Jul to Dec 2025.

Methodology: A total of 120 adults admitted to ICU with a confirmed diagnosis of severe CAP were enrolled. Informed consent was obtained prior to participation. Baseline demographic and clinical data including age, sex, residence and symptom duration were documented. Serum procalcitonin and albumin levels were measured to compute PAR. A PAR threshold of ≥ 0.22 was used to anticipate in-hospital mortality. All patients were monitored throughout their hospital stay to determine outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.0. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and overall diagnostic performance of PAR were calculated using a 2×2 contingency approach, taking mortality during hospitalization as a comparator.

Results: The mean age of participants was 58.28±5.00 years, and 75% patients were males. The mortality rate during hospitalization was 60.8%. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and diagnostic accuracy of PAR were 84.93%, 80.85%, 87.3%, 77.6% and 83.3% respectively.

Conclusion: The procalcitonin to albumin ratio is a dependable and practical biomarker for early prediction of mortality in patients with severe CAP. Incorporating PAR into routine assessment may support better clinical decision making in critical-care settings.

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