# COVID-19: association of the National Early Warning Score with triage categories, severity and outcomes

## TL;DR

This study shows that higher National Early Warning Scores in COVID-19 patients are linked to more severe outcomes like intubation and death.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates a strong association between NEWS2 and clinical deterioration, intubation, and mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

## Key findings

- Patients in the red risk category had significantly higher NEWS2 and NEWS Age scores.
- Scores ≥ 7 were strongly associated with red/orange risk stratification and death.
- Clinical deterioration and intubation were significantly associated with higher warning scores.

## Abstract

to identify the association of the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) and NEWS Age with risk categories, severity markers and outcomes in the emergency department.

retrospective cohort study, conducted in a high-complexity hospital, with 356 hospitalized patients (mean age 59.4; ±14.4 years) with COVID-19, from April to August 2020. To verify the association between risk categories and alert scores, the chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis and likelihood ratio tests (p<0.05) were used.

patients stratified in the red category had higher NEWS2 and NEWS Age (<0.0001) than the others. Clinical risk categorized by scores was associated with clinical deterioration (p<0.0001), orotracheal intubation (p<0.0001) and death (NEWS - p=0.0098/NEWS Age - p<0.0001).

scores ≥ 7 were associated with red/orange risk stratification, clinical deterioration and occurrence of death.

identificar a associação do National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) e NEWS Age com as categorias de risco, marcadores de gravidade e desfechos no serviço de emergência.

coorte retrospectiva, realizada em hospital de alta complexidade, com 356 pacientes internados (média de idade 59,4; ±14,4 anos) com COVID-19, de abril a agosto de 2020. Para verificar associação entre as categorias de risco e os escores de alerta, utilizaram-se os testes qui-quadrado, Kruskal-Wallis e razão de verossimilhança (p<0,05).

pacientes classificados na categoria vermelha apresentaram NEWS2 e NEWS Age (<0,0001) mais elevados que os demais. O risco clínico categorizado pelos escores foi associado à deterioração clínica (p<0,0001), intubação orotraqueal (p<0,0001) e óbito (NEWS - p=0,0098/NEWS Age - p<0,0001).

pontuações ≥ 7 foram associados à classificação de risco vermelho/laranja, deterioração clínica e ocorrência de óbito.