Beyond Association: Proposing a Clinically Actionable NLR-Sarcopenia Risk Stratification Tool for Post-Acute Care Settings

The systematic review and meta-analysis by Wang et al1 provides valuable pooled evidence linking elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with sarcopenia. This work underscores NLR's potential as an accessible biomarker. However, a critical translational gap remains unaddressed: how should clinicians, particularly in postacute care (PTC) and long-term care settings where sarcopenia profoundly impacts recovery and independence, apply this knowledge? The conclusion that NLR ≥3.0 “may serve as a practical indicator”1 stops short of offering a structured, actionable framework for frontline use.