Biomarkers · Hematology

Absolute Neutrophil Count

Lower values go with lower risk of death. In NHANES 1999–2018 with linked mortality to 2019, each standard deviation above average goes with 24% higher risk of death. We found the same pattern in NHANES

Absolute Neutrophil Count and risk of death

NHANES, our fit with 95% CIPublished curve

Published curve higher than the NHANES fitNHANES fit higher

Risk of death relative to each curve's own reference value, so the two curves need not cross 1 at the same point. The dotted vertical line marks the NHANES median.

Risk of death per SD (NHANES)1.24×95% CI 1.21–1.27 · 48,954 adults, 7,151 deaths

Published risk of death1.20×per 1 G/L increase of neutrophil count (95% CI 1.10–1.31) · 853 consecutive patients with neurologically asymptomatic carotid stenosis, Vienna, prospective

Value of the measurement+0.022gain in concordance within age bands; rank 17 of 56 · all tests

Absolute Neutrophil Count by age and sex

Each bar runs from the 5th to the 95th percentile, the darker part from the 25th to the 75th, and the tick is the median. Not a reference range or a target.

The percentiles as a table

Each row is one sex and age band: the values below which 5%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 95% of people fall (10^3 cells/uL), from the survey named in the row. Not a reference range or a target.
Sex	Age	5th	25th	Median	75th	95th	n	Cycle / source
All	20-39	2.06	3.10	4.10	5.20	7.30	1,456	NHANES 2017-2018
All	40-59	2.00	3.10	4.00	5.20	7.53	1,582	NHANES 2017-2018
All	60+	2.30	3.20	4.10	5.20	7.30	1,939	NHANES 2017-2018
All	all	2.10	3.10	4.10	5.20	7.40	4,977	NHANES 2017-2018
Men	20-39	2.00	2.90	3.70	5.00	7.00	698	NHANES 2017-2018
Men	40-59	2.10	3.00	3.90	5.03	7.26	740	NHANES 2017-2018
Men	60+	2.20	3.20	4.20	5.20	7.50	981	NHANES 2017-2018
Men	all	2.05	3.00	3.90	5.10	7.27	2,419	NHANES 2017-2018
Women	20-39	2.15	3.40	4.40	5.50	7.70	758	NHANES 2017-2018
Women	40-59	1.90	3.10	4.10	5.30	7.70	842	NHANES 2017-2018
Women	60+	2.30	3.10	4.10	5.00	7.00	958	NHANES 2017-2018
Women	all	2.10	3.20	4.20	5.30	7.60	2,558	NHANES 2017-2018

What studies found when this marker was changed

They describe what happened in those study groups, not a recommendation. See all catalogued interventions.

Measured changes in Absolute Neutrophil Count, study by study

1 effect with a numeric size, each from one study arm: the dot is the reported change, the line its 95% interval where one was given. Green points move the marker the way lower risk of death lies; amber the other way. Study results in the groups studied, not predictions for a person.

Each row is one study: what was changed, the effect it reported on this marker, and the source.
Type	Intervention	Reported effect	Evidence	Source
pharmacologic	Anakinra (IL-1 receptor antagonist) for 14 days after ST-elevation myocardial infarction, neutrophil count change at 72 h	Absolute neutrophil count fell 48% from admission at 72 hours on anakinra (placebo arm fell 27%); n=64 in the anakinra arm	RCT	Del Buono MG, et al. Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):1254.

Sources

Risk curve: Mayer 2013 (PMID 24267239): all-cause HR 1.2 (1.1-1.31) per 1 G/L increase of neutrophil count. Scaled to US values (NHANES).
Mayer et al. Prognostic value of neutrophils in patients with asymptomatic carotid artery disease. Atherosclerosis. 2013;231:274-80.
NHANES curve: our Cox model adjusted for age and sex, NHANES 1999–2018 with linked mortality to 2019.

Map Absolute Neutrophil Count against another biomarker.

Map Absolute Neutrophil Count against another marker