Assessment of the performance of early warning scores in patients with COVID-19.

Objective: To assess the performance of the early warning scores Modified Early Warning Score, National Early Warning Score 2, National Early Warning Score Age and quick Sepsis Related Organ Failure Assessment for identifying clinical deteriorations in patients with COVID-19.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study. Patients with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 were included. Clinical deteriorations were acute respiratory failure, shock and cardiorespiratory arrest, and the outcomes were unscheduled admission to the Intensive Care Unit, discharge and death. The sensitivity and probability of a positive result in patients (true positive) and the specificity and probability of a negative result in non-patients (true negative) were determined.

Results: The National Early Warning Score 2 and the National Early Warning Score Age showed better sensitivity values for early identification of deteriorations and outcomes.

Conclusions: NEWS 2 and NEWS A showed better sensitivity and specificity, and their use is recommended to support the clinical assessment of patients with COVID-19. This study contributes to healthcare practice by assessing scores that can improve clinical assessment, allowing rapid identification of signs of deterioration in patients affected by COVID-19 and early interventions.