A recent study from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) has shed light on the potential of the Advanced Lung Cancer Inflammation Index (ALI) as a significant risk marker for respiratory diseases, particularly Asthma-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Overlap Syndrome (ACO) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
The study, “Potential of the Advanced Lung Cancer Inflammation Index as a Risk Marker for Asthma-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Overlap Syndrome and COPD: Evidence from NHANES 2007-2018,” analyzed data from NHANES 2007-2018 and found that higher levels of ALI are associated with a reduced risk of both ACO and COPD. The study was published in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
The study utilized logistic regression models and propensity score matching (PSM) methods to analyze the correlation between ALI and respiratory diseases. Researchers analyzed data from 21,123 participants, adjusting for various covariates such as age, gender, race, education and lifestyle factors.
The ALI, a comprehensive index combining body mass index (BMI), serum albumin levels and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), was shown to be a valuable metric for assessing inflammation and nutritional status in patients.
Key findings from the study show:
- ALI as a continuous variable: A negative association was found between ALI and both ACO (Odds Ratio [OR]=0.70) and COPD (OR=0.72), indicating that higher ALI levels correspond to lower risks of these diseases.
- ALI as a categorical variable: The negative association persisted across different quartiles, particularly in the highest quartile (Q4), reinforcing the protective role of higher ALI levels.
- Predictive performance: The area under the curve (AUC) for ALI in predicting ACO and COPD was 0.69 and 0.73, respectively, demonstrating its effectiveness as a predictive tool.
Researchers said the findings suggest that ALI could serve as a more comprehensive and clinically valuable marker compared to single indicators of inflammation. Given the inherent inflammatory nature of chronic respiratory diseases, incorporating ALI into routine assessments could enhance the management and prognosis of patients with ACO and COPD. However, researchers cautioned that further research is necessary to explore the underlying mechanisms and potential causal relationships.
