Neutrophil-to-albumin ratio (NAR) as a predictor of pulmonary cavitation in pediatric and adolescent patients with active tuberculosis: a retrospective cohort study

Pulmonary cavitation is a characteristic feature of severe tuberculosis (TB) that substantially influences both disease transmission and clinical outcomes. Although immunonutritional imbalances have been implicated in the pathogenesis of TB, the role of composite biomarkers, such as the neutrophil-to-albumin ratio (NAR), in pediatric populations has not been extensively investigated. This study sought to assess the association between NAR and pulmonary cavitation in children and adolescents with