Validation of Predicting Hyperglycemic Crisis Death Score: A Risk Stratification Tool for Appropriate Disposition of Hyperglycemic Crisis Patients from the Emergency Department

CONTEXT: Predicting hyperglycemic crisis death (PHD) score is a simple, rapid tool with six independent mortality predictors to calculate 30-day mortality and appropriately dispose patients to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or ward. AIMS: This study aimed at validating the efficiency of PHD score as a decision rule for prognosticating 30-day mortality and classifying hyperglycemic crisis patients for appropriate disposition from the emergency department (ED). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective, observational study done in the ED of a teaching hospital over 14 months. All patients aged >18 years and who met the criteria of hyperglycemic crisis were enrolled. Thirty-day mortality of six independent predictors was the primary end point. Using PHD, risk scores were calculated and patients were disposed as per physician's clinical judgment. Finally, the treating physician's decision and PHD score disposition were compared and the efficiency of PHD in predicting 30-day mortality was analyzed. Multiple logistic regression models were used for analysis. Receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn, and area under the curve along with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value was analyzed. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 133 patients were included. On applying PHD score, 69, 39, and 25 patients were in the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups, respectively, with a mortality rate of 5.8%, 20.5%, and 56%, respectively. On comparing physician disposition with PHD score, an increasing mortality was noticed in ICU, and PHD showed equal weight in risk stratification and appropriate disposition of patients. CONCLUSION: In adult patients with hyperglycemic crisis, PHD score is validated as a straightforward, prompt tool for predicting 30-day mortality and aids in disposition. The mortality rate in the PHD score Model II was similar to the physician's clinical decision.