[C-Reactive Protein and SOFA Scale: a Simple Score As Early Predictor of Critical Care Requirement in Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia in Spain.]/ Proteína C Reactiva Y Escala SOFA: Una Simple Escala Como Factor Predictivo Temprano De La Necesidad De Cuidados Críticos En Los Pacientes Con Neumonía Causada Por COVID-19 En España.

OBJECTIVE: To identify potential markers at admission predicting the need for critical care in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An approved, observational, retrospective study was conducted between March 15 to April 15, 2020. 150 adult patients aged less than 75 with Charlson comorbidity index ≤ 6 diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia were included. Seventy-five patients were randomly selected from those admitted to the critical care units (Critical care group (CG)) and seventy-five hospitalized patients who did not require critical care (Non-Critical care group (nCG)) represent the control group. One additional cohort of hospitalized patiens with COVID-19 were used to validate the score. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Multivariable regression showed increasing odds of in-hospital critical care associated with increased C-reactive protein (CRP) (odds ratio 1.052 (1.009-1.101); p=0·0043) and higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (1.968 (1.389-2.590); p 0.05 vs AUC-ROC development). CONCLUSION: Patients COVID-19 presenting at admission SOFA score ≥2 combined with CRP ≥ 9,1 mg/mL could help clinicians to identify them at high risk to require critical care.