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Utility of a single early warning score in patients with sepsis in the emergency department
  1. Alasdair R Corfield1,
  2. Fiona Lees2,
  3. Ian Zealley3,
  4. Gordon Houston4,
  5. Sarah Dickie5,
  6. Kirsty Ward2,
  7. Crawford McGuffie5,
  8. on behalf of the Scottish Trauma Audit Group Sepsis Steering Group
  1. 1Emergency Department, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley, UK
  2. 2Information Services Division, National Services Scotland, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
  3. 3Radiology Department, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, Scotland, UK
  4. 4Anaesthetic Department, Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock, Scotland, UK
  5. 5Emergency Department, Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock, Scotland, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Alasdair R Corfield, Emergency Department, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley PA2 9PN, UK; a.corfield{at}nhs.net

Abstract

Background An important element in improving the care of patients with sepsis is early identification and early intervention. Early warning score (EWS) systems allow earlier identification of physiological deterioration. A standardised national EWS (NEWS) has been proposed for use across the National Health Service in the UK.

Aim To determine whether a single NEWS on emergency department (ED) arrival is a predictor of outcome, either in-hospital death within 30 days or intensive care unit (ICU) admission within 2 days, in patients with sepsis.

Methods Data were collected over a 3-month period as part of a national audit in 20 EDs in Scotland. All adult patients who were admitted for at least 2 days or who died within 2 days were screened for sepsis criteria. Patients with  systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria were included. An EWS was calculated based on initial physiological observations made in the ED using the NEWS.

Results Complete data were available for 2003 patients. Each rise in NEWS category was associated with an increased risk of mortality when compared to the lowest category (5–6: OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.21 to 3.14), (7–8: OR 2.26, 95% CI 1.42 to 3.61), (9–20: OR 5.64, 95% CI 3.70 to 8.60). This was also the case for the combined outcome (ICU and/or mortality).

Conclusions An increased NEWS on arrival at ED is associated with higher odds of adverse outcome among patients with sepsis. The use of NEWS could facilitate patient pathways to ensure triage to a high acuity area of the ED and senior clinician involvement at an early stage.

  • Resuscitation, Clinical Care
  • Triage
  • Death/Mortality
  • Emergency Department
  • Intensive Care

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