ObjectiveTo investigate the prognostic value of high mobility group protein 1 (HMGB1) in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). MethodsA total 118 VAP patients admitted between March 2013 and March 2015 were recruited in the study. The patients were divided into a death group and a survival group according to 28-day death. Baseline data, HMGB1, C-reactive protein (CRP), clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHEⅡ) and sepsis-related organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores were collected on 1st day (d1), 4th day (d4), and 7th day (d7) after VAP diagnosis. The possible prognostic factors were analyzed by univariate and logistic multivariate analysis. ResultsThere were 87 cases in the survival group and 31 cases in the death group. Age, female proportion, body mass index, HMGB1 (d1, d4, d7), APACHEⅡ (d1, d4, d7) and SOFA (d1, d4, d7) scores were all higher in the death group than those in the survival group (all P < 0.05). HMGB1 (d4, P=0.031), APACHEⅡ (d4, P=0.018), SOFA (d4, P=0.048), HMGB1(d7, P=0.087), APACHEⅡ(d7, P=0.073) and SOFA (d7, P=0.049) were closely correlated with 28-day mortality caused by VAP. Multivariate analysis revealed that HMGB1 (d4, HR=1.43, 95%CI 1.07 to 1.78, P=0.021), SOFA (d4, HR=1.15, 95%CI 1.06 to 1.21, P=0.019) and HMGB1 (d7, HR=1.27, 95%CI 1.18 to 1.40, P=0.003) were independent predictors of death in the VAP patients. ROC curve revealed HMGB1 (d4, d7) and SOFA (d4) with area under ROC curve of 0.951, 0.867 and 0.699. ConclusionIndividual HMGB1 level can be used as a good predictor of the short-outcomes of VAP.