Clinical prediction rule for SARS-CoV-2 infection from 116 U.S. emergency departments 2-22-2021

Jeffrey A. Kline, Carlos A. Camargo, D. Mark Courtney, Christopher Kabrhel, Kristen E. Nordenholz, Thomas Aufderheide, Joshua J. Baugh, David G. Beiser, Christopher L. Bennett, Joseph Bledsoe, Edward Castillo, Makini Chisolm Straker, Elizabeth M. Goldberg, Hans House, Stacey House, Timothy Jang, Stephen C. Lim, Troy E. Madsen, Danielle M. McCarthy, Andrew MeltzerStephen Moore, Craig Newgard, Justine Pagenhardt, Katherine L. Pettit, Michael S. Pulia, Michael A. Puskarich, Lauren T. Southerland, Scott Sparks, Danielle Turner Lawrence, Marie Vrablik, Alfred Wang, Anthony J. Weekes, Lauren Westafer, John Wilburn

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives Accurate and reliable criteria to rapidly estimate the probability of infection with the novel coronavirus-2 that causes the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) and associated disease (COVID-19) remain an urgent unmet need, especially in emergency care. The objective was to derive and validate a clinical prediction score for SARS-CoV-2 infection that uses simple criteria widely available at the point of care. Methods Data came from the registry data from the national REgistry of suspected COVID-19 in EmeRgency care (RECOVER network) comprising 116 hospitals from 25 states in the US. Clinical variables and 30-day outcomes were abstracted from medical records of 19,850 emergency department (ED) patients tested for SARS-CoV-2. The criterion standard for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 required a positive molecular test from a swabbed sample or positive antibody testing within 30 days. The prediction score was derived from a 50% random sample (n = 9,925) using unadjusted analysis of 107 candidate variables as a screening step, followed by stepwise forward logistic regression on 72 variables. Results Multivariable regression yielded a 13-variable score, which was simplified to a 13-point score: +1 point each for age50 years, measured temperature37.5C, oxygen saturation 95%, Black race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, household contact with known or suspected COVID-19, patient reported history of dry cough, anosmia/dysgeusia, myalgias or fever; and-1 point each for White race, no direct contact with infected person, or smoking. In the validation sample (n = 9,975), the probability from logistic regression score produced an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.79 0.81), and this level of accuracy was retained across patients enrolled from the early spring to summer of 2020. In the simplified score, a score of zero produced a sensitivity of 95.6% (94.8 96.3%), specificity of 20.0% (19.0 21.0%), negative likelihood ratio of 0.22 (0.19 0.26). Increasing points on the simplified score predicted higher probability of infection (e.g., 75% probability with +5 or more points). Conclusion Criteria that are available at the point of care can accurately predict the probability of SARSCoV-2 infection. These criteria could assist with decisions about isolation and testing at high throughput checkpoints.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere0248438
JournalPloS one
Volume16
Issue number3 March
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2021
Externally publishedYes

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