Discriminant ability of the shock index, modified shock index, and reverse shock index multiplied by the Glasgow coma scale on mortality in adult trauma patients: a PATOS retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: The shock index (SI) predicts short-term mortality in trauma patients. Other shock indices have been developed to improve discriminant accuracy. The authors examined the discriminant ability of the SI, modified SI (MSI), and reverse SI multiplied by the Glasgow Coma Scale (rSIG) on short-term mortality and functional outcomes.

METHODS: The authors evaluated a cohort of adult trauma patients transported to emergency departments. The first vital signs were used to calculate the SI, MSI, and rSIG. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves and test results were used to compare the discriminant performance of the indices on short-term mortality and poor functional outcomes. A subgroup analysis of geriatric patients with traumatic brain injury, penetrating injury, and nonpenetrating injury was performed.

RESULTS: A total of 105 641 patients (49±20 years, 62% male) met the inclusion criteria. The rSIG had the highest areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve for short-term mortality (0.800, CI: 0.791-0.809) and poor functional outcome (0.596, CI: 0.590-0.602). The cutoff for rSIG was 18 for short-term mortality and poor functional outcomes with sensitivities of 0.668 and 0.371 and specificities of 0.805 and 0.813, respectively. The positive predictive values were 9.57% and 22.31%, and the negative predictive values were 98.74% and 89.97%. rSIG also had better discriminant ability in geriatrics, traumatic brain injury, and nonpenetrating injury.

CONCLUSION: The rSIG with a cutoff of 18 was accurate for short-term mortality in Asian adult trauma patients. Moreover, rSIG discriminates poor functional outcomes better than the commonly used SI and MSI.