Perioperative medicine & outcomes
Performance of the early warning system score in predicting postoperative complications in older versus younger patients
Authors' conclusion
Predicted performance of the EWS score was moderate among older and younger patients. A limitation of the EWS score is the high rate of missed events and nonevents.
Study context
- Population
- Surgical patients with early warning system (EWS) scores routinely measured on POD1 and POD339.3% ≥ 70 years
- Participants
- 4,866 patients
- Comparison
- EWS score performance in patients ≥ 70 years vs < 70 years
- Primary endpoint
- Prognostic performance of EWS scores to predict severe postoperative complications
- Follow-up
- POD1 and POD3
Methodological detailsprognostic study
- Prognostic study
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Discrimination of EWS for severe postoperative complications (C-statistic)
| Group | C-statistic POD1 (95% CI) | C-statistic POD3 (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|
| Older | 0.65 (0.59-0.70) | 0.63 (0.57-0.69) |
| Younger | 0.68 (0.65-0.72) | 0.65 (0.61-0.70) |
C-statistic POD1 (95% CI)
Older0.65 (0.59-0.70)
Younger0.68 (0.65-0.72)
C-statistic POD3 (95% CI)
Older0.63 (0.57-0.69)
Younger0.65 (0.61-0.70)
Further findings
Severe postoperative complications (incidence)
P = 0.658
EWS scores on POD1 and POD3
- Did not differ between age groups
Missed event and nonevent rates at EWS score ≥ 3
- Missed event rate
- at least 69%
- Nonevent rate
- 75%
Original publication
Performance of the early warning system score in predicting postoperative complications in older versus younger patients. Perioper Med (Lond). Published 1 April 2025. doi:10.
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