Table 1 Abbreviated MEDS score

Variable	Defined as	Points
Terminal illness	Metastatic cancer or chronic illness with >50% likelihood of fatality within 28 days	6
Tachypnoea/hypoxia	Respiratory rate >20 or Spo₂ <90%	3
Septic shock	Sepsis plus a systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg despite a 20–30 ml/kg fluid bolus	3
Platelet count <150 000/mm³		3
Age >65 years		3
Lower respiratory tract infection	Based on clinical findings	2
Nursing home resident		2
Altered mental state	Glasgow coma score <15	2
Total possible score		24

Spo₂, oxygen saturation.