Prognostic Impact of the Controlling Nutrition Status Score in Patients With Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma

Abstract The controlling nutritional status (CONUT) is a simplified nutritional index calculated from serum albumin, total cholesterol, and the total lymphocyte count. Although the CONUT score is an independent prognostic factor in several hematological malignancies, the prognostic impact of the CONUT score in peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is unclear. This study evaluated the prognostic impact of the CONUT score on overall survival (OS) in patients with PTCL. A multicentre, retrospective, cohort study including 99 patients with PTCL was conducted. The CONUT score was significantly higher in the non-survivor group (median 5, range 0-12) than in the survivor group (median 3, range 0-11) (P = 0.026). The CONUT score was an independent prognostic factor in a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model (hazard ratio 1.118, 95% confidence interval 1.020-1.225, P = 0.017). The Cox proportional hazards model with restricted cubic spline showed an S-shaped relationship between the CONUT score and OS. No significant effect-modification by the International Prognostic Index (IPI) was observed, and the CONUT score affected the prognosis of PTCL regardless of the IPI (P for interaction = 0.208). In conclusion, the CONUT score is an independent prognostic factor in patients with PTCL irrespective of IPI categories.