Abstract

Objective: We intended to determine the relationship between the severity and clinical outcomes of acute pancreatitis and the C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin ratio (CAR).

Method: A total of 580 patients with acute pancreatitis, treated in the ınternal medicine clinic, were reviewed retrospectively. According to the revised Atlanta criteria, the patients were categorized into three groups: Mild, moderate, and severe pancreatitis. The CAR, hospital stay duration, requirement for intensive care, and mortality rates were compared among these groups.

Results: The CAR was associated with severe acute pancreatitis [odds ratio 1.04; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03-1.06; p<0.001]. To identify the severe pancreatitis group according to the Atlanta criteria, the CRP/ albumin level was determined to be >15.59 with a sensitivity of 96.77% and a specificity of 75.32%. The area under the ROC curve for the CAR in severe acute pancreatitis was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.87-0.92). When comparing the areas under the curve for albumin, CRP, and the CAR in identifying severe disease according to the Atlanta criteria, the CAR was statistically significantly higher than CRP and marginally different from albumin.

Conclusion: The CAR, which is easily obtainable and a non-invasive test, can be used as a marker in addition to existing risk scores to determine acute pancreatitis severity.