Systemic inflammatory burden at diagnosis predicts survival in Hodgkin lymphoma: a comprehensive evaluation of the Complete Blood Count Score Model.

BACKGROUND

Although systemic inflammation is a well-established prognostic factor in malignancies, composite inflammation-based models remain underexplored in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). We investigated the prognostic significance of complete blood count (CBC)-derived inflammatory indices and a novel Complete Blood Count Score Model (CBCSM) in patients with HL.

METHODS

This study included 80 patients diagnosed with HL. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) were calculated at diagnosis. Optimal cut-off values for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were determined using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Survival outcomes were assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

Higher NLR, PLR, SII, and SIRI values were significantly associated with shorter PFS and OS (p < 0.01). While clinicopathological factors age, disease stage, and B symptoms predominantly influenced overall survival, CBC-derived inflammatory indices were also associated with both PFS and OS in survival analyses. The composite CBCSM enabled additional risk stratification, with progressively worse outcomes observed across increasing risk categories.

CONCLUSION

Baseline CBC-derived inflammatory indices and the composite CBCSM may provide clinically meaningful prognostic information in HL. Their simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and routine availability make them potentially useful adjuncts to traditional prognostic factors for risk stratification and individualized patient management.