An interesting new POEM from the CMA, testing the validity of a decision rule for predicting mortality in AECOPD.

Clinical Question

Does the DECAF score accurately predict mortality in hospitalized patients with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

Bottom line

The cleverly named Dyspnea, Eosinopenia, Consolidation, Acidemia, and atrial Fibrillation (DECAF) score (gotta love a good acronym!) accurately identifies patients with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) as being at low, moderate, or high risk of mortality. The DECAF score can serve as a check on a physician’s judgment about a patient and can help identify which patients may be safe for discharge and which patients may require closer monitoring or intensive care. 1b

Reference

Echevarria C, Steer J, Heslop-Marshall K, et al. Validation of the DECAF score to predict hospital mortality in acute exacerbations of COPD. Thorax 2016;71:133-140.

More here.