File(s) under permanent embargo
A clinical sickness score for the critically ill in Central Africa
journal contribution
posted on 1989-11-01, 00:00 authored by David WattersDavid Watters, I H Wilson, J R Sinclair, N NganduScoring systems provide a means for comparing results, ensuring consistent standards and evaluating changes in therapy. The APACHE II system depends partly on the results of laboratory tests which are not normally available in Central Africa. The aim of this study was to develop a scoring system based only on clinical observations. Six hundred and twenty-four consecutive admissions to the intensive care unit (ICU) were allocated a clinical sickness score (CSS) according to pulse rate, blood pressure, respiration rate, urine output, Glasgow Coma Scale, temperature and age. CSS was significantly associated with outcome, there being no significant difference between actual and predicted outcomes calculated by logistic regression analysis. There was a significant difference between mean scores for survivors and non-survivors in all diagnostic groups except diabetes. The proportional change in score from admission was also significantly associated with outcome on each subsequent day in ICU. The CSS provides an objective measure of illness severity for critically ill patients in Africa.
History
Journal
Intensive care medicineVolume
15Issue
7Pagination
467 - 470Publisher
SpringerLocation
Berlin, GermanyPublisher DOI
ISSN
0342-4642eISSN
1432-1238Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
1989, Springer-VerlagUsage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedKeywords
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC