LAUSR

Key Points Question How do common tools using points-based risk scores compare for identifying high-risk hospitalized inpatients with and without infection? Findings In this cohort study of 5 commonly used point-based risk scores for 1.5 million hospitalizations across 2 US states, the National Early Warning Score had the highest discrimination for identifying inpatients at risk for death and/or intensive care unit transfer. Compared with other tools calculating risk scores, the National Early Warning Score was also more efficient at all sensitivity thresholds. Meaning These results suggest that, among common points-based scoring systems, using the National Early Warning Score for inpatient risk stratification could identify patients with and without infection at high risk of mortality.