New clinical prediction model for early recognition of sepsis in adult primary care patients: a prospective diagnostic cohort study of development and external validation
Loots, Feike J.; Smits, Marleen; Hopstaken, Rogier M.; Jenniskens, Kevin; Schroeten, Fleur H.; Van Den Bruel, Ann; Van De Pol, Alma C.; Oosterheert, Jan Jelrik; Bouma, Hjalmar; Little, Paul; Moore, Michael; Van Delft, Sanne; Rijpsma, Douwe; Holkenborg, Joris; Van Bussel, Bas C.T.; Laven, Ralph; Bergmans, Dennis C.J.J.; Hoogerwerf, Jacobien J.; Latten, Gideon H.P.; De Bont, Eefje G.P.M.; Giesen, Paul; Den Harder, Annemarie; Kusters, Ron; Van Zanten, Arthur R.H.; Verheij, Theo J.M.
(2022) British Journal of General Practice, volume 72, issue 719, pp. E437 - E445
(Article)
Abstract
Background: Recognising patients who need immediate hospital treatment for sepsis while simultaneously limiting unnecessary referrals is challenging for GPs. Aim: To develop and validate a sepsis prediction model for adult patients in primary care. Design and setting: This was a prospective cohort study in four out-of-hours primary care services in
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the Netherlands, conducted between June 2018 and March 2020. Method: Adult patients who were acutely ill and received home visits were included. A total of nine clinical variables were selected as candidate predictors, next to the biomarkers C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and lactate. The primary endpoint was sepsis within 72 hours of inclusion, as established by an expert panel. Multivariable logistic regression with backwards selection was used to design an optimal model with continuous clinical variables. The added value of the biomarkers was evaluated. Subsequently, a simple model using single cut-off points of continuous variables was developed and externally validated in two emergency department populations. Results: A total of 357 patients were included with a median age of 80 years (interquartile range 71-86), of which 151 (42%) were diagnosed with sepsis. A model based on a simple count of one point for each of six variables (aged >65 years; temperature >38°C; systolic blood pressure ≤110 mmHg; heart rate >110/min; saturation ≤95%; and altered mental status) had good discrimination and calibration (C-statistic of 0.80 [95% confidence interval = 0.75 to 0.84]; Brier score 0.175). Biomarkers did not improve the performance of the model and were therefore not included. The model was robust during external validation. Conclusion: Based on this study's GP out-of-hours population, a simple model can accurately predict sepsis in acutely ill adult patients using readily available clinical parameters.
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Keywords: Adult, Aged, 80 and over, Biomarkers, Cohort Studies, Humans, Models, Statistical, Primary Health Care, Prognosis, Prospective Studies, Sepsis/diagnosis, Journal Article
ISSN: 0960-1643
Publisher: Royal College of General Practitioners
Note: Funding Information: This study was funded by The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) (grant number: 843001811). Star-shl Diagnostic Centres provided additional funding. The following manufacturers provided in-kind funding of materials: Philips, Nova Biomedical, and ThermoFisher. The funders had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication. Funding Information: Rogier M Hopstaken declares to have received honoraria from Lumiradx, Photondelta, and Abbott for advisory board meetings and lecturing. Arthur RH van Zanten reports receiving honoraria for advisory board meetings, lectures, research, and travel expenses from Baxter, Cardinal Health, Danone-Nutricia, DIM3, Fresenius Kabi, Mermaid, Lyric, and Nestlé-Novartis. Theo JM Verheij participated in studies that were funded by the EU and partly by Biomerieux, Becton Dickinson, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and Abbott (IMI projects). All other authors have declared no competing interests. Funding Information: The authors thank all site personnel of the GP cooperatives and the patients for participating in this study. They also thank Idelette Nutma for her valuable input as a patient representative throughout the study and Eugenie Gemen of the Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology of the Jeroen Bosch Hospital for assistance with analyses of the blood samples. Publisher Copyright: © The Authors.
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