Modified SCOPE (mSCOPE) Score as a Tool to Predict Mortality in COVID-19 Critically Ill Patients

Introduction: Efficient clinical scores predicting the outcome of severe COVID-19 pneumonia may play a pivotal role in patients' management. The aim of this study was to assess the modified Severe COvid Prediction Estimate score (mSCOPE) index as a predictor of mortality in patients admitted to the ICU due to severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Materials and methods: In this retrospective observational study, 268 critically ill COVID-19 patients were included. Demographic and laboratory characteristics, comorbidities, disease severity, and outcome were retrieved from the electronical medical files. The mSCOPE was also calculated. Results: An amount of 70 (26.1%) of patients died in the ICU. These patients had higher mSCOPE score compared to patients who survived (p < 0.001). mSCOPE correlated to disease severity (p < 0.001) and to the number and severity of comorbidities (p < 0.001). Furthermore, mSCOPE significantly correlated with days on mechanical ventilation (p < 0.001) and days of ICU stay (p = 0.003). mSCOPE was found to be an independent predictor of mortality (HR:1.219, 95% CI: 1.010-1.471, p = 0.039), with a value >= 6 predicting poor outcome with a sensitivity (95%CI) 88.6%, specificity 29.7%, a positive predictive value of 31.5%, and a negative predictive value of 87.7%. Conclusion: mSCOPE score could be proved useful in patients' risk stratification, guiding clinical interventions in patients with severe COVID-19.

Automated summary

This study assessed the modified Severe COvid Prediction Estimate score (mSCOPE) as a predictor of mortality in ICU-admitted severe COVID-19 pneumonia patients. The results showed that patients with higher mSCOPE scores had a higher mortality rate and were correlated with disease severity, comorbidity severity, days on mechanical ventilation, and days of ICU stay. The mSCOPE score can be a useful tool for risk stratification in patients with severe COVID-19.