Comparison of Early Warning Scores in Determining the Prognosis of COVID-19 Patients

OBJECTIVE

 To compare the effectiveness of early warning score systems in predicting 30-day poor outcomes in Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) patients admitted to the emergency department.

STUDY DESIGN

Descriptive study. Place and and Duration of the Study: Fatih Sultan Mehmet Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkiye, from March 2020 to March 2021.

METHODOLOGY

The patients who presented to the emergency department, diagnosed with COVID-19 and tested positive for polymerase chain reaction were analysed. The study included the calculation of the rapid emergency medicine score, risk stratification in the emergency department in acutely ill older patients score, 4C mortality score, and modified early warning score for the patients. These scores were then compared in terms of their ability to predict adverse outcomes, defined as intensive care admission and/or mortality.

RESULTS

During the study period, 10,281 COVID-19 patients were admitted to the emergency department. Out of them, 1,826 patients were included in the study. There were 159 (8.7%) cases with poor outcomes. The risk stratification in the emergency department in acutely ill older patients Score was the most successful in poor prognosis.

CONCLUSION

Based on the findings of this study, the risk stratification in the emergency department in acutely ill older patients score demonstrated greater efficacy compared to other early warning scores in identifying patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who had an early indication of a poor prognosis.

KEY WORDS

Early warning score, 4C mortality score, REMS, Rise-up score, MEWS, Emergency department, COVID-19.