Variables
The exposure variables were the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and
the platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), defined as the quotient between
neutrophil or platelet count and lymphocyte count. We calculated both
ratios using the patient’s complete blood count, and defined elevates
NLR and PLR; as a cut-off point of 3.5 and 232.5; respectively(14). The
primary outcome was mortality, which is a dependent variable composed of
the probability of dying and the time until the development of the
event. Other variables of interest included age (years), sex, glomerular
filtration rate (GFR) (ml /min/1.73m2), CKD stage (stratified into three
groups: initial stages (1 and 2), intermediate stages (3a and 3b) and
advanced stages (4 and 5), platelets. (K/ul), albumin (g/dl), hemoglobin
(g/dl) and comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension.