A study has identified the systemic immune response index (SIRI) as a significant and independent inflammatory marker linked to an increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the study found that higher quartiles of SIRI were strongly associated with increased COPD odds. SIRI outperformed other inflammatory markers, including the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), in predicting COPD risk. A linear relationship was observed, with each unit increase in SIRI correlating to a 16% higher risk of developing COPD. Subgroup analyses revealed that the effect of SIRI was more pronounced in smokers, particularly those who continued smoking, and in men.
Although the study’s cross-sectional design limits the ability to infer causality, the findings suggest that SIRI could be a valuable tool for diagnosing and predicting COPD risk. The researchers emphasized the need for more studies, including longitudinal research and randomized controlled trials, to confirm the predictive value of SIRI for COPD and explore its potential as a clinical marker. Despite its limitations, the study highlights the importance of inflammatory markers like SIRI in COPD research and underscores the need for further investigation into its role in the disease’s pathogenesis.
Reference: McCormick B. Systemic Immune Response Index Identified as Independent Risk Factor for COPD. HCPLive. Published March 23, 2025. Accessed May 2, 2025. https://www.ajmc.com/view/systemic-immune-response-index-identified-as-independent-risk-factor-for-copd
