Evidence mapPaperPMID 41492002Full record

SynthesisScientific reports2026

The predictive value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio for the occurrence, progression, and mortality of diabetic nephropathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hao Liu, Lvlin Chen, Junchen Zhu, Zhen Zhang, Haiyan Nie, Chao Tan, Wang Gong, Yinquan Ai, Xiang Yuan, Sen Zhang and 4 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Hao Liu *Clinical Medical College & Affiliated Hospital & College of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, China.
Lvlin Chen *Department of Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, China.
Junchen Zhu *Department of Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, China.
Zhen ZhangClinical Medical College & Affiliated Hospital & College of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, China.
Haiyan NieClinical Medical College & Affiliated Hospital & College of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, China.
Chao TanClinical Medical College & Affiliated Hospital & College of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, China.
Wang GongClinical Medical College & Affiliated Hospital & College of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, China.
Yinquan AiClinical Medical College & Affiliated Hospital & College of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, China.
Xiang YuanClinical Medical College & Affiliated Hospital & College of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, China.
Sen ZhangClinical Medical College & Affiliated Hospital & College of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, China.
Xingyu HeClinical Medical College & Affiliated Hospital & College of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, China.
Xinyu LiuClinical Medical College & Affiliated Hospital & College of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, China.
Peiling CaiClinical Medical College & Affiliated Hospital & College of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, China.
Yongyan SongClinical Medical College & Affiliated Hospital & College of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, China. songyongyan@cdu.edu.cn.

Funding

the Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan, China 2022NSFSC0740the Research Project of Jinniu District Medical Association JNKY2024-05the Student Innovation Training Program of Chengdu University 202511079007
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has emerged as a promising inflammatory biomarker in diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, its predictive value across the clinical spectrum of DN, from occurrence to progression and mortality, remains undefined. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the association between NLR and the risk, progression, and mortality of DN through a comprehensive meta-analysis. This systematic review and meta-analysis searched six databases for cohort and case-control studies published up to May 28, 2025. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and standardized mean differences (SMDs) were calculated. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses explored heterogeneity. This review was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024586927). Thirty-nine studies involving 14,300 participants showed that patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) had higher NLR levels than diabetic controls without nephropathy, demonstrating a significant association between elevated NLR and DN occurrence (SMD = 1.31, 95% CI 0.96–1.66; OR = 2.16, 95% CI 1.85–2.52; both P < 0.00001). Among DN patients, those who experienced kidney function deterioration also exhibited higher NLR values than those with stable kidney function (SMD = 1.02, 95% CI 0.77–1.26, P < 0.00001; OR = 2.12, 95% CI 1.04–4.31, P = 0.04). The association with mortality was marginally non-significant (OR = 1.21, 95% CI 0.99–1.48, P = 0.06). Subgroup analyses showed stronger associations in patients aged ≥ 60 years and those with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m². NLR shows potential as a biomarker for identifying individuals at increased risk of DN occurrence and progression. Given the heterogeneity and possible publication bias among studies, these findings should be interpreted with caution and confirmed by future large-scale, standardized research.

Indexed as

Diabetic NephropathiesLymphocytesNeutrophilsBiomarkersDisease ProgressionHumansLymphocyte CountPredictive Value of TestsPrognosisBiomarkersDiabetes mellitusDiabetic nephropathyKidney function deteriorationMeta-analysisMortalityNeutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio

Identifiers

PMID41492002
PMCPMC12789594

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.