Objective To investigate the correlation between prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and systemic inflammatory response (SIR) markers and their value for postoperative complications in oral cancer patients.

Methods The clinical data of 180 patients who underwent oral cancer resection for the first time were retrospectively collected.According to the blood routine and biochemical examination report 1 week before surgery, the value of PNI was calculated.The average value of PNI was used as the optimal cut-off value, and the high PNI group and the low PNI group were divided.The differences in clinicopathological features, SIR markers and postoperative complications between the two groups were analyzed by chi-square test, the relationship between preoperative PNI and SIR markers was explored by Pearson correlation analysis, and the risk factors affecting postoperative complications of oral cancer were analyzed by constructing a logistic regression model.

Results There were significant differences in lymph node metastasis, clinical stage, operation duration, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio(LMR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio(PLR) between the two groups (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).The incidence of lung infection and the incidence of wound infection in the high PNI group were lower than those in the low PNI group (P < 0.05).Preoperative PNI showed a significant positive correlation with LMR (P < 0.01) and a significant negative correlation with both NLR and PLR (P < 0.01).Logistic regression analysis showed that PNI, clinical stage, respiratory pathway and smoking history were the independent influencing factors for postoperative complications in oral cancer patients (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).

Conclusions Preoperative PNI is correlated with SIR markers in oral cancer patients, and low preoperative PNI level is an independent risk factor for postoperative complications in oral cancer, which has certain guiding significance for postoperative complications assessment.