Introduction Many clinical prediction rules (CPRs) exist for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), though few have been investigated to predict escalation to an intensive care unit (ICU). Furthermore, most include components (sometimes subjective) that do not allow the potential for electronic automation in clinical practice.

Methods A historical cohort study was performed at two UK adult acute medical units (2013–15). Inclusion was based on an ICD-10 coded diagnosis of pneumonia. Primary outcome was escalation to ICU. Exclusion criteria was: direct ICU admission from A and E, a stay <1 night, age <18 or ≥80 or frail elderly, neutropenia, HIV, malignancy and palliative care. Predictive performance of CURB-65 was compared to CRB-65, CURB, the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) and a modified SMART-COP (SART-CO, as imaging and ABGs were not available) using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was also performed to investigate additional predictors electronically available at admission (blood and physiological parameters).

Results 1,305 of 24,706 medical admissions were included. 8.3% (n = 109) were escalated to ICU, with significantly increased in-patient mortality (31% vs 6.5%, p < 0.001). 54% of ICU patients had, or developed, AKI vs 11% if not escalated (p < 0.001). To predict escalation, AUCROCs for existing CPRs ranged from 0.54–0.61 (Figure). Using multivariable logistic regression a newly derived CPR – SNA³P - (including 6 components: Sodium, NEWS ≥ 7, Albumin, AST, AKI and Platelets, score range 0–20 points) demonstrated a statistically significant increase in discrimination (AUCROC 0.80, 95% CI: 0.75–0.84). At a cut-off of 2 points to predict ICU escalation, sensitivity was 92% (95% CI: 85–96%), specificity 48% (45–51), positive predictive value (PPV) 14% (11–16) and negative predictive value 98% (97–99); at 6 points sensitivity was 53% (43–63), specificity 87% (85–89), PPV 27% (21–33) and NPV 95% (94–96).

Conclusion Existing pneumonia CPRs, largely derived to predict mortality, have shortcomings when predicting those who require escalation to ICU. The newly derived rule SNA³P, if externally validated could be incorporated into an electronic clinical decision support system to provide automatic objective assessment and evidence of risk at point-of-care for those who may be considered for escalation.

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Abstract P196 Figure 1

AUC_ROC for escalation to ICU. CURB-65 0.59 (95% CI: 0.52–0.63), CRB-65 0.54 (0.49–0.60), CURB 0.59 (0.54–0.65), NEWS 0.58 (0.53–0.64), SART-CO 0.61 (0.56–0.67), SNAAAP 0.80 (0.75–0.84).