ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between adiponectin (ADPN), the ratio of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) to albumin (ALB), and the progression of acute cerebral infarction (ACI).

MethodsThis case-control study involved 147 patients with ACI who were treated at Xingyuan Hospital of Yulin between January 2023 and March 2024. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was used to evaluate disease progression. Based on the progression of the disease, the patients were divided into two groups: the progressive group ( n = 38) and the non-progressive group ( n = 109). ADPN level and the hs-CRP/ALB ratio were compared between the two groups. Additionally, multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify risk factors for disease progression in ACI patients. The predictive value of ADPN and the hs-CRP/ALB ratio for ACI was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

ResultsIn the progressive group, hs-CRP level and hs-CRP/ALB ratio were (14.38 ± 3.27) mg/L and (0.43 ± 0.13), respectively, both of which were significantly higher than those in the non-progressive group [(8.92 ± 2.73) mg/L, (0.20 ± 0.07), t = 9.22, 10.37, both P < 0.001]. In contrast, the levels of ADPN and albumin in the progressive group were (2.71 ± 0.59) mg/L and (33.54 ± 8.66) g/L, respectively, both of which were significantly lower than those in the non-progressive group [(5.36 ± 1.42) mg/L, (45.05 ± 10.42) g/L, t = -15.99, -6.68, both P < 0.001]. The progressive group had higher admission NIHSS scores, a higher proportion of patients with diabetes, higher white blood cell counts, higher hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and fibrinogen levels compared with the non-progressive group ( t = 8.43, 2.88, 5.79, 2.77, χ ² = 4.40, all P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis results indicated that higher admission NIHSS scores, HbA1c levels, and hs-CRP/ALB ratios were independent risk factors for disease progression in ACI patients ( OR = 2.438, 1.600, 2.971, all P < 0.05), while higher levels of ADPN were identified as a protective factor against disease progression ( OR = 0.321, P < 0.05). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under the curve for predicting disease progression after admission for ACI patients using serum ADPN and hs-CRP/ALB ratio alone were 0.730 (95% CI: 0.658-0.800) and 0.758 (95% CI: 0.685-0.826), respectively. The area under the curve for the combined prediction of serum ADPN and the hs-CRP/ALB ratio was 0.895 (95% CI: 0.845-0.940), demonstrating higher predictive efficacy ( Z = 1.80, 2.13, both P < 0.05).

ConclusionsADPN level and hs-CRP/ALB ratio are closely related to the progression of ACI and demonstrate good predictive efficacy for disease progression.