Skip to main content
Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Pillser
Search
Sign UpLog In

The role of serum albumin and albumin-related nutritional indices in predicting post-stroke cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

  • 2025-08-13
  • Frontiers in neurology 16
    • Yan-Qiu Wang
    • Xia He
    • Xia-Lian Huang
    • Fu-Li Qin
    • Feng-le Mao
    • Yue-Ming Cheng
    • Xiao-Xue Zeng
    • Ying-Ying Yang
    • Ming-Xi Xu

Study Design

Type
Systematic Review
Population
stroke patients
Methods
systematic search of six databases, literature selection and data collection by two researchers, quality assessment using NOS, meta-analysis with weighted mean difference

Background

The role of serum albumin levels and albumin-related nutritional indices in the prediction of cognitive impairment after stroke has not reached a uniform conclusion.

Methods

This study was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251012150) and followed the PRISMA guidelines. We systematically searched six databases with a time frame from the date of database establishment to March 29, 2025. Literature selection and data collection were conducted by two researchers. Assessment of literature quality was performed according to the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was used to express pooled effect sizes. The chi-square (χ2) test (Cochran's Q) and index of inconsistency (I2) were used to detect heterogeneity.

Results

A total of 9 studies involving 2,332 stroke patients were included in this meta-analysis. The results of this study showed that serum albumin levels (WMD: -3.85; 95% CI: -5.61, -2.09; p < 0.0001), Geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) (WMD: -2.68; 95% CI: -4.97, -0.39; p = 0.02), and HALP (hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet) scores (WMD: -10.74; 95% CI: -19.98, -1.50; p = 0.02)were significantly lower in the post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) compared to the post-stroke non-cognitive impairment (PSNCI).

Conclusion

Decreased serum albumin levels and albumin-related nutritional indices (GNRI and HALP scores) have a strong correlation with PSCI, which may become important indicators for early prediction of the development of PSCI.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#recordDetails, identifier, CRD420251012150.

Research Insights

  • Albumin→Reduced Cognitive Impairment

    serum albumin levels (WMD: -3.85; 95% CI: -5.61, -2.09; p < 0.0001) ... were significantly lower in the post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) compared to the post-stroke non-cognitive impairment (PSNCI).

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Large
Back to top