Delgado GE, Krämer BK, März W, Hellstern P, Kleber ME, Leipe J
Leukocyte subtypes were profiled by flow cytometry in 2173 LURIC participants and their associations with mortality assessed by Cox regression stratified by smoking status. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was the strongest mortality predictor in never-smokers (HR 1.43, 95% CI 1.26-1.61) but no associations were found in active smokers. Immune markers improved risk prediction only in never-smokers (AUC 0.777 to 0.801), indicating smoking status modifies the prognostic value of circulating leukocytes.
Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 8. Juni 2021 | PMID 33460442