Objective: Ischemic stroke caused by large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) is a major subtype of ischemic stroke and poses a heavy public health burden. Plasma atherogenic index (AIP) reflects the balance between pro- and anti-atherogenic lipid components and has emerged as a potential biomarker of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of AIP in predicting ischemic stroke caused by LAA.Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional study involved 2,382 ischemic stroke patients. AIP values were measured, and subjects were further stratified according to AIP levels. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the relationship between AIP and the risk of LAA. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis was used to detect the potential non-linear relationship, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the predictive ability of AIP. Subgroup analyses were carried out to identify specific populations with a higher risk of LAA.Results: Individuals with consistently high levels of AIP were at increased risk of developing LAA, and this risk increased progressively with increasing levels of AIP. RCS analyses showed a threshold of 0.10 for the AIP index, a significant increase in the probability of LAA above this threshold, and a non-linear relationship between AIP and LAA. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that, as a continuous variable, each unit increase in AIP was significantly associated with an elevated risk of LAA. When divided into quartiles, the risk of LAA was higher in Q4 compared with the lowest quartile (Q1), and ROC curve analyses confirmed that AIP had moderate sensitivity and specificity in predicting LAA. Subgroup analyses showed that among individuals with consistently high AIP levels, those aged ≥60 years with a history of diabetes and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) < 3.4 mmol/L were at higher risk of developing LAA.Conclusion: Herein, we found that elevated AIP levels are significantly associated with increased LAA risk and are an important biomarker to help identify patients at high risk for LAA.

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a significant health issue among the elderly, with severe cases (SCAP) having high mortality rates. This study assesses the predictive significance of the stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) in elderly SCAP patients and its impact on outcomes in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Methods and materials: This retrospective study included 406 SCAP patients aged 65 or older from the Second People’s Hospital of Lianyungang (January 2020 to December 2023). Data collected included demographics, medical history, vital signs, and lab results. SHR was calculated from initial blood glucose and estimated average glucose (HbA1c). Statistical analyses, including Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis, evaluated SHR’s impact on mortality. Mediation models explored the effects of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and SHR. Results: The 28-day mortality rate was 21.67%. Deceased patients had higher age, Charlson Comorbidity Index, procalcitonin, NLR, glucose, and SHR levels compared to survivors (P < 0.05). Both SHR and NLR significantly increased mortality risk, particularly in non-diabetic patients. Combining NLR and SHR improved ROC AUC to 0.898, with 89.80% sensitivity and 81.10% specificity. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed higher cumulative survival for SHR < 1.14, regardless of diabetes status (P < 0.05). NLR mediated 13.02% of the SHR-survival relationship, while SHR mediated 14.06% of the NLR-survival relationship. Conclusion: Elevated SHR is a significant mortality risk factor in elderly SCAP patients, independent of diabetes status. Stringent glucose control and careful monitoring of SHR may improve outcomes in elderly patients with acute respiratory conditions.

Purpose: This study proposes a multiple mediation model to evaluate the association among diminished physical performance, malnutrition, inflammation, and delirium in seniors with community-acquired pneumonia. Patients and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included elderly patients hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia at the Geriatrics Department of the Second People’s Hospital of Lianyungang from January 1, 2020, to January 1, 2024. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the associations among physical performance, nutritional status, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and delirium. Mediation models assessed the effects of nutritional status and CRP on the relationship between physical performance and delirium, with subgroup analyses based on diabetes status. Results: A total of 379 patients were included, with a mean age of 80.0± 7.4 years, and 51.7% were male. The incidence of delirium during hospitalization was 28.5% (n=108). Subgroup analyses revealed significant correlations between physical performance, nutritional status, and CRP (P< 0.001), regardless of diabetes status. After adjusting for confounding variables, CRP was positively associated with delirium, while MNA-SF and SPPB scores showed negative correlations with delirium risk (OR=0.852, 95% CI: 0.730– 0.995; OR=0.580, 95% CI: 0.464– 0.727, P< 0.05). Mediation analyses indicated that MNA-SF scores and CRP significantly mediated the association between SPPB and delirium. Specifically, pathways “SPPB→ MNA-SF→ delirium”, “SPPB→ CRP→ delirium”, and “SPPB→ MNA-SF→ CRP→ delirium” demonstrated significant mediating effects in patients without diabetes, while only the pathway “SPPB→ MNA-SF→ CRP→ delirium” was significant in those with diabetes. Conclusion: Older patients with community-acquired pneumonia and poor physical performance are more susceptible to delirium, with nutritional status and inflammation as key mediators.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) increases mortality risk in older patients, often complicated by delirium. Key risk factors include malnutrition and glucose metabolism disorders. This study examines the Stress Hyperglycemia Ratio (SHR) as a predictive marker for delirium in older CAP patients and its role in clinical risk management. In this retrospective study, we analyzed patients aged 65 and older diagnosed with CAP at the Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang. Delirium was evaluated using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) based on DSM-5 criteria. We assessed clinical data, including nutritional status, SHR, and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. Nutritional status was measured using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF). Statistical analyses including logistic regression, Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis, and mediation analyses were used to ascertain the predictive value of SHR and its interaction with other delirium risk factors. The average age of the cohort was 84.20 ± 5.15 years, with a delirium incidence of 19.68 % and a 28-day mortality rate of 11.16 %. Both SHR and IL-6 were significant risk factors for delirium, while higher MNA-SF scores were protective. An SHR of 1.12 or greater indicated an elevated risk of delirium. Combined assessments of SHR, IL-6, and MNA-SF enhanced predictive accuracy, achieving an AUC of 0.723. SHR and IL-6 independently and synergistically influenced the relationship between nutritional status and delirium onset. SHR is a crucial risk factor for delirium in older CAP patients, interacting with nutritional and inflammatory markers. Integrating SHR with nutritional and inflammatory assessments can enhance early risk identification and improve clinical outcomes for this vulnerable group.

Malnutrition and insulin resistance are linked to complications like delirium, yet their impact on elderly heart failure patients remains underexplored. This study investigates how nutritional status and the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index influence delirium in this population. We conducted a retrospective study involving patients aged 75 and older with decompensated heart failure. Delirium was assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM), and nutritional status was evaluated with the Mini Nutritional Assessment Scale-Short Form (MNA-SF). The TyG index was calculated as: TyG index = ln [triglycerides (mg/dL) x fasting glucose (mg/dL) / 2]. The study included 412 patients (mean age 84.30 +/- 5.16 years; 56.31% male), with 24.03% experiencing delirium during hospitalization. After adjusting for confounders, a higher TyG index was significantly associated with increased delirium risk (OR = 1.549, 95% CI: 1.102-2.178, P = 0.012), while a higher MNA-SF score correlated with reduced risk (OR = 0.793, 95% CI: 0.662-0.949, P = 0.011). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed significant differences in cumulative survival based on nutritional status and TyG index (Log-Rank test: chi(2)= 65.604, P < 0.001). Mediation analysis indicated that nutritional status partially mediated the relationship between the TyG index and delirium, and vice versa. Malnutrition and elevated TyG index levels increase delirium risk in elderly heart failure patients, underscoring the need for effective nutritional management and metabolic regulation.

The prognostic significance of dynamic changes in the albumin-to-C-reactive protein ratio (ACR) in elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) has not been fully elucidated. This study aims to evaluate the utility of ACR as a dynamic biomarker for predicting 28-day mortality and enhancing risk stratification in this high-risk population. A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 437 elderly CAP patients (≥65 years). Serum albumin and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured at admission (T0), 24 hours (T1), and 3 days (T2) post-admission. ACR was calculated for each time point, and its prognostic value was assessed using advanced statistical methods. The 28-day mortality rate was 16.7%. ACR levels were consistently lower in non-survivors across all time points (P < 0.001). RCS analysis revealed a nonlinear relationship between ACR and mortality risk. Time-varying ROC analysis demonstrated that ACR consistently outperformed CRP in predicting mortality, with superior area under the curve (AUC) values at all time points. Random-effects modeling indicated minimal inter-individual variability in ACR (random effects variance: 0.030; standard deviation: 0.175). Time-varying Cox regression confirmed a strong negative association between dynamic ACR changes and mortality risk, with a C-statistic of 0.833 (P < 0.001). Dynamic monitoring of ACR is a robust and clinically applicable tool for predicting short-term mortality in elderly CAP patients. By integrating markers of inflammation and nutritional status, ACR facilitates early identification of high-risk patients and supports personalized treatment strategies. These findings highlight the potential of ACR as a novel biomarker for improving clinical outcomes in this vulnerable population.