Assessing continued benefits of 4C scores for mortality among patients with COVID-19 pneumonitis admitted to a teaching district general hospital (2023)

Type of publication:
Conference abstract

Author(s):
Cox D.; Koshy K.; *Moudgil N.; *Makan A.; *Crawford E.; *Moudgil H.; *Srinivasan K.;

Citation:
Thorax. Conference: British Thoracic Society Winter Meeting 2023. London United Kingdom. 78(Supplement 4) (pp A201), 2023. Date of Publication: November 2023.

Abstract:
Background and Objectives The 4C (Coronavirus Clinical Characterisation Consortium) score incorporating patient comorbidities with measures of acute physiology and inflammation is an internationally validated prognostic tool for in-hospital mortality introduced early during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the subsequent strong uptake of SARS-CoV-2- RNA vaccines, more targeted therapies, changing virulence of the coronavirus (now predominantly omicron), and fewer reported deaths, the goal/objectives of this work were to determine continuing relevance of 4C scores by (1) reporting their distribution categorised with risk profile and (2) further analysing mortality in the immediate in-hospital setting and at 12 months. Methods Retrospective computer-based data including SARSCoV- 2-RNA vaccination status/boosters collected for patients with confirmed infection and COVID-19 pneumonitis admitted during 2 months to July 2022; subsequent analysis for mortality was by regression analysis accepting statistically significant findings for standardised beta coefficients at p<.05 adjusting for demographics, vaccination status and targeted COVID-19 directed (Remdesivir/Tocilizumab) therapeutic variables as well as oxygen (O2) and use of medical devices. Results 62 patients (47% males), with mean (SD, range) age 75.8 (15.4, 32-101) years were identified; 19 (30.6%), with mean survival 70 (67, 6-237) days (median 40 days), had died (9 in the initial admission and 10 during follow up). 55 (88.7%) had been vaccinated at least once. Distribution of 4C scores with mortality in-hospital and during follow up are shown in table 1; 8/9 (88.9%) in-hospital and 17/19 (89.5%) overall deaths were from patients with high or very high 4C scores. Independent variables statistically significant on regression analysis for in-hospital mortality included positively with 4C score (p= .018) and high O2/medical ventilatory devices (p= .000), and negatively with age (p= .048), dexamethasone (p= .046), and targeted COVID treatments (p= .036) but not gender, status/number of vaccines, or low dose O2 use. None of the variables were significant at 12 months. Conclusions Analysis of this real-life data has shown continued role for 4C scores outside of their original validation; despite no statistical significance among independent variables at 12 months, the continued mortality (30.6% in the cohort) likely reflects on the significant burden of co-morbidity.