TY - JOUR T1 - Glucose as an additional parameter to National Early Warning Score (NEWS) in prehospital setting enhances identification of patients at risk of death: an observational cohort study JF - Emergency Medicine Journal JO - Emerg Med J SP - 286 LP - 292 DO - 10.1136/emermed-2018-208309 VL - 37 IS - 5 AU - Hanna Vihonen AU - Mitja Lääperi AU - Markku Kuisma AU - Jussi Pirneskoski AU - Jouni Nurmi Y1 - 2020/05/01 UR - http://emj.bmj.com/content/37/5/286.abstract N2 - Background To determine if prehospital blood glucose could be added to National Early Warning Score (NEWS) for improved identification of risk of short-term mortality.Methods Retrospective observational study (2008–2015) of adult patients seen by emergency medical services in Helsinki metropolitan area for whom all variables for calculation of NEWS and a blood glucose value were available. Survival of 24 hours and 30 days were determined. The NEWS parameters and glucose were tested by multivariate logistic regression model. Based on ORs we formed NEWSgluc model with hypoglycaemia (≤3.0 mmol/L) 3, normoglycaemia 0 and hyperglycaemia (≥11.1 mmol/L) 1 points. The scores from NEWS and NEWSgluc were compared using discrimination (area under the curve), calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow test), likelihood ratio tests and reclassification (continuous net reclassification index (cNRI)).Results Data of 27 141 patients were included in the study. Multivariable regression model for NEWSgluc parameters revealed a strong association with glucose disturbances and 24-hour and 30-day mortality. Likelihood ratios (LRs) for mortality at 24 hours using a cut-off point of 15 were for NEWSgluc: LR+ 17.78 and LR− 0.96 and for NEWS: LR+ 13.50 and LR− 0.92. Results were similar at 30 days. Risks per score point estimation and calibration model showed glucose added benefit to NEWS at 24 hours and at 30 days. Although areas under the curve were similar, reclassification test (cNRI) showed overall improvement of classification of survivors and non-survivors at 24 days and 30 days with NEWSgluc.Conclusions Including glucose in NEWS in the prehospital setting seems to improve identification of patients at risk of death. ER -