May the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) play a role in predicting age-related macular degeneration?

It is known that a healthy and balanced diet plays an important role in the etiopathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The aim of this study is to show the possible relationship between the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and AMD.

This observational longitudinal study included 50 patients who were diagnosed with AMD and 100 participants as control group in the Ophthalmology Polyclinic of Kırşehir Ahi Evran Training and Research Hospital between December 2022 and February 2023. The PNI scores of the patients were calculated with the formula (10 × albumin (g/L) + (0.005 × total lymphocyte count), using routine hemogram and biochemical assays.

One hundred fifty participants were included in the study (average age: 73.7 ± 8.6 years, male: 53.3%). When adjusted for age, sex, and total comorbidity index score via multivariate logistic regression analysis, the association between AMD and PNI scores (OR = 0.3; CI: 0.2–0.4; p = 0.01) and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) scores (OR = 6.8; CI: 2.8–16.6; p = 0.01) was statistically significant.

The use of PNI scores may be practical and useful in routine clinical practice for predicting AMD.