Prognostic Value of the Inflammatory Burden Index for Short-Term Outcomes after Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Review article

Background: Inflammation is now widely recognized as a major driving force in the development of atherosclerosis and its clinical complications, particularly plaque destabilization and acute coronary syndromes. In patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), inflammatory activity may become further intensified due to procedural vascular injury and reperfusion-related damage, which can influence early clinical outcomes. The Inflammatory Burden Index (IBI), derived from C-reactive protein and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, has recently emerged as a more comprehensive indicator of systemic inflammatory status. Aim: This article aimed to explore the prognostic significance of the Inflammatory Burden Index in predicting short-term outcomes following primary PCI. Methods: We searched Science Direct, Google Scholar and PubMed for this review article, which was based on analysis of published literature focusing on inflammatory biomarkers in acute coronary syndrome and PCI. Relevant studies evaluating C-reactive protein, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and composite inflammatory indices were examined, with particular emphasis on data addressing the role of IBI in predicting early clinical outcomes and major adverse cardiovascular events. Documents written in languages other than English were ignored due to lack of translation funds. Unpublished works, oral presentations, conference abstracts, and dissertations were excluded. Conclusion: The Inflammatory Burden Index represents a simple yet informative marker that may improve early risk stratification in patients undergoing primary PCI. Its incorporation into clinical assessment could help identify high-risk individuals and support more tailored therapeutic approaches. Available evidence suggests that elevated IBI levels are consistently associated with worse short-term outcomes after primary PCI. Higher inflammatory burden has been linked to increased rates of adverse events, including mortality, heart failure, arrhythmias, and recurrent ischemia, reflecting the impact of systemic inflammation on myocardial injury and microvascular function.