The Effect of HALP Score on the Prognosis of Gastric Adenocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the predictive value of haemoglobin and albumin levels and lymphocyte and platelet (HALP) counts in gastric cancer patients.

STUDY DESIGN

Descriptive study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY

Department of Gastroenterology, Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University, Faculty of Medicine, Zonguldak, Turkey, from January 2017 to January 2022.

METHODOLOGY

Clinical data of 204 patients with gastric cancer were reviewed. The median value of the HALP score of 23.87, was considered to be cut-off. According to this cut-off value, patients are separated into two categories. Kaplan-Meier method was used to identify factors associated with the overall survival.

RESULTS

There was no statistical difference in the mean HALP score according to gender, tumour localisation, histological type, TNM stage, and adjuvant or palliative chemotherapy groups. The mean HALP score was significantly lower in those older than 64 years (p=0.04). When all the patients were divided into the low and high HALP scores, gender, age, histological subtypes, tumour location, adjuvant or palliative treatment status, TNM stage, CEA, and CA19-9 levels were statistically similar between the two groups. A significant difference was found in overall survival of the patients with low and high HALP groups (p=0.05). There was an insignificant difference in the overall survival of those with low and high HALP scores in the adjuvant and palliative chemotherapy groups.

CONCLUSION

Gastric adenocarcinoma patients with a high HALP score had a better overall survival rate.

KEY WORDS

Gastric adenocarcinoma, Haemoglobin, Albumin, Lymphocyte, Platelet, HALP score.