C-Reactive protein and SOFA scale: A simple score as early predictor of critical care requirement in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia in Spain()

OBJECTIVE: To identify potential markers at admission predicting the need for critical care in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An approved, observational, retrospective study was conducted between March 15 to April 15, 2020. 150 adult patients aged less than 75 with Charlson comorbidity index ≤6 diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia were included. Seventy-five patients were randomly selected from those admitted to the critical care units (critical care group [CG]) and seventy-five hospitalized patients who did not require critical care (non-critical care group [nCG]) represent the control group. One additional cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were used to validate the score. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Multivariable regression showed increasing odds of in-hospital critical care associated with increased C-reactive protein (CRP) (odds ratio 1.052 [1.009-1.101]; P = 0.0043) and higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (1.968 [1.389–2.590]; P < 0.0001), both at the time of hospital admission. The AUC-ROC for the combined model was 0.83 (0.76-0.90) (vs AUC-ROC SOFA P < 0.05). The AUC-ROC for the validation cohort was 0.89 (0.82–0.95) (P > 0.05 vs AUC-ROC development). CONCLUSION: Patients COVID-19 presenting at admission SOFA score ≥ 2 combined with CRP ≥ 9.1 mg/mL could be at high risk to require critical care.