Validation of an early warning score in pre-intensive care unit.

Background And Objectives: Prognosis of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) has a relation with their severity just before admission. The Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) was used to evaluate the severe condition of patients 12, 24 and 72 hours before admission in the ICU, assess the most prevalent parameters and correlate the MEWS before ICU with the outcome (survival versus death).

Methods: Retrospective analyses of 65 patients consecutively admitted to the ICU from July to October, 2006 evaluating the physiological parameters 72 hours prior to admission.