Association of Inflammatory Burden Index with Severe Complications in Oral and Maxillofacial Space Infections

doi:10.13701/j.cnki.kqyxyj.2026.09.012

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To investigate the association between the inflammatory burden index (IBI) and severe complications in patients with oral and maxillofacial space infection (OMSI). Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 264 patients with OMSI admitted to the Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, from January 2020 to August 2025. Participants were stratified into severe (n=64) and non-severe complication groups (n=200). Clinical and laboratory data were collected. IBI was calculated as CRP×ANC/ALC, with natural logarithmic transformation (LogIBI) applied to achieve normality. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on the tertiles of LogIBI. Logistic regression assessed the LogIBI-complication association, supplemented by restricted cubic spline (RCS) and sensitivity analyses. The diagnostic efficacy of LogIBI for severe complications was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: Compared with the non-severe complication group, the severe complication group demonstrated significantly elevated LogIBI values, higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, increased incidence of odontogenic infections and multi-space involvement, and reduced albumin levels (all P<0.001). Across ascending LogIBI tertiles, multi-space infections, odontogenic infections, and complications rates increased progressively while albumin decreased. Multivariable adjustment confirmed LogIBI as an independent predictor of severe complications (OR=2.72, 95%CI:1.45~5.11, P=0.002). RCS modelling revealed a non-linear association (nonlinear P=0.007). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of LogIBI for diagnosing severe complications was 0.767, with a sensitivity of 64%, a specificity of 86%, and an optimal diagnostic cutoff value of 3.27. Conclusion: Elevated LogIBI independently predicts severe OMSI complications and demonstrates clinical utility for early risk stratification, potentially informing targeted intervention strategies.

Key words: oral and maxillofacial infection, severe complications, inflammatory burden index, Logistic regression analysis, correlation

ZHANG Lei, LIU Rui, WANG Xuefeng, HUO Feng, CHEN Xibo. Association of Inflammatory Burden Index with Severe Complications in Oral and Maxillofacial Space Infections[J]. Journal of Oral Science Research, 2026, 42(9): 799-805.

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