Question

The Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) is a tool used by nurses to monitor a patient’s clinical deterioration based on vital signs. A study evaluated MEWS’ ability to predict 7-day in-hospital mortality. The sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), positive likelihood ratio (LR+), and number needed to evaluate (NNE) were the criteria to evaluate the predictive ability of MEWS. Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct interpretation(s) of the test results? please select ALL that apply.

      Select one or more

1. The LR+ value for MEWS indicates being alive within 7-day is about 5 times more likely to happen in patients with a MEWS> 5 than those with MEWS< 5.
2. The PPV value for MEWS indicates, of patients with MEWS>5, 23% of them died within 7 days
3. The PPV value for MEWS indicates, of patients with MEWS<5, 23% of them did not

died within 7 days

4. In this study, 48% of patients who died within 7-days has been correctly identified using MEWS> 5.
5. The NNE value for MEWS means using a MEWS cutoff of 5, approximately 4.5 patients need to be evaluated to detect one unstable patient
6. The LR+ value for MEWS indicates death within 7-day is about 5 times more likely to happen in patients with a MEWS>5 than those with MEWS<5

Answer 1

The correct interpretation of the test results are :-

d. In this study, 48% of patients who died within 7-days has been correctly identified using MEWS> 5.

e. The NNE value for MEWS means using a MEWS cutoff of 5, approximately 4.5 patients need to be evaluated to detect one unstable patient

f. The LR+ value for MEWS indicates death within 7-day is about 5 times more likely to happen in patients with a MEWS>5 than those with MEWS<5