Compared to both albumin and the lymphocytes, the PNI offered good accuracy in predicting AKI (PNI vs. albumin; AUC: 0.792 vs. 0.749, z = 2.016, p = 0.0438; PNI vs. lymphocyte; AUC: 0.792 vs. 0.666, z = 4.194, p <  0.001). Here, ALB is linked to acute kidney injury.