Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) as a predictor of intensive care unit admission in cancer patient on chemotherapy with positive blood culture: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Although the usefulness of the Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) in predicting clinical deterioration or the need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission has been evaluated in several studies, only few reports have considered the immune status of the patient. Patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer are at risk of sepsis. This study aimed to assess the validity of MEWS in predicting clinical deterioration, ICU admission, and mortality among immunocompromised cancer patients on chemotherapy (CPOC).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary care center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Subjects aged>14 years with positive blood cultures, who were hospitalized between June 2016 and June 2017, were included. MEWS was calculated at different time intervals: before, after, and at the time (0-time) of positive blood culture.

Results: Overall, 192 patients were enrolled, including 89 CPOC and 103 immunocompetent individuals (controls). ICU admission rate was significantly lower in the CPOC group than in the control group (21 % vs. 50 %, P < .001). Positive MEWS rate (score ≥4) at 0-time was lower in the CPOC group, but the difference was not significant (39.7 % vs. 60.3 %, P = .129). In the CPOC group, positive MEWS rate (score ≥4) had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 52.6 %, 70 %, 32.3 %, and 84 %, respectively, which was comparable to that observed in the control group. Furthermore, the receiver operating characteristic curve in the CPOC group showed that MEWS calculated 12-36 h before positive blood culture was a significant predictor of ICU admission. The optimal threshold of MEWS with the best sensitivity and specificity was ≥ 3 for the CPOC group and ≥ 4 for the control group to predict ICU admission. MEWS was a generally poor predictor of mortality.

Conclusion: MEWS ≥ 3 calculated 12-36 h before positive blood culture is the best predictor of ICU admission for CPOC.