From the Guidelines
The CRP to Albumin ratio cannot be calculated from the information provided, as both the C-Reactive Protein (CRP) level and the serum albumin level are required for this specific patient. To calculate this ratio, both values would be needed, and it is calculated by dividing the CRP value (mg/L) by the albumin value (g/dL) 1. The CRP to Albumin ratio is a useful inflammatory biomarker that can help predict outcomes in various conditions, including infections, cancer, and inflammatory diseases. Higher ratios generally indicate more severe inflammation and potentially worse prognosis, as supported by studies showing the relationship between inflammation, nutritional risk, and outcomes in patients with COVID-19 1.
Some key points to consider when evaluating the CRP to Albumin ratio include:
- The inflammatory nature of conditions like COVID-19 can affect both CRP and albumin levels, with albumin levels declining during the acute phase inflammatory response due to alterations in visceral protein homeostasis regardless of nutritional status 1.
- Albumin levels are more closely associated with poor outcomes rather than as an indicator of nutrition status, and can be regarded as an inflammatory marker associated with nutritional risk 1.
- Lower albumin concentrations at admission have been associated with a higher risk of ICU transfer independent of age and CRP levels, and a difference of 10 g/L in baseline albumin concentrations was associated with a 5-fold increase in ARDS and a 2-fold increase in mortality 1.
For accurate clinical decision-making based on this ratio, it would be important to interpret the result in the context of the patient's specific condition, as reference ranges may vary depending on the clinical scenario. If you need to determine this ratio, both laboratory values should be obtained from the patient's recent blood work.
From the Research
CRP to Albumin Ratio
The CRP to Albumin ratio, also known as the CAR, is a calculated index that has been studied for its predictive value in various diseases.
- The CAR has been found to be a predictor of steroid responsiveness in acute severe ulcerative colitis, with a ratio of 0.85 or higher indicating a higher risk of steroid nonresponse 2.
- In COVID-19 patients, a CAR value above 21.47 has been found to be moderately predictive of disease severity 3.
- The CAR has also been studied in patients with pulmonary thromboembolism, where it was found to be an independent predictor of massive PTE and in-hospital mortality 4.
- In patients with community-acquired bloodstream infection, the CAR has been found to be useful in predicting short and long-term mortality 5.
Calculation of CRP to Albumin Ratio
The CRP to Albumin ratio is calculated by dividing the C-reactive protein (CRP) level by the albumin level.
- The optimal CAR to predict response to steroids on day 3 was 0.85 (sensitivity 70%, specificity 76%) 2.
- A CAR value above 21.47 was found to be moderately predictive of disease severity in COVID-19 patients 3.
Clinical Significance
The CRP to Albumin ratio has been found to be a useful predictor of disease severity and outcome in various diseases.
- A high CAR has been associated with a higher risk of steroid nonresponse in acute severe ulcerative colitis 2.
- A high CAR has been associated with a higher risk of massive PTE and in-hospital mortality in patients with pulmonary thromboembolism 4.
- A low albumin level has been found to be predictive of higher short and long-term mortality in patients with community-acquired bloodstream infection 5.