Purpose

The aim of this study was to validate the acutely presenting older patient (APOP) screener, routinely used on the Emergency Department to predict risk of adverse outcomes in older people, for prediction of in-hospital mortality and 30-days-mortality in older patients hospitalized for COVID-19.

Methods

Patients ≥ 70 years from a multicenter cohort hospitalized for COVID-19 with measured APOP risk were included. External validation analysis of the APOP screener for in-hospital mortality and 30-days-mortality was performed including discrimination and calibration.

Results

389 patients (median age 80 (IQR 75-85) years, 41.4% female, 138 APOP high risk) were included. APOP high risk patients more often lived institutionalized, (26% vs. 4%; p < 0.001), had more comorbidities (Charlson Comorbidity Index 2 (1-3) vs. 2 (0-3); p = 0.002) and were less often fit (Clinical Frailty Scale 1-3 17% vs. 62%; p < 0.001). 84 patients died in hospital and 114 within 30 days. APOP high risk patients had a higher risk of in-hospital-death [OR 1.6 (95% CI 1.0-2.6)] and death within 30 days [OR 2.7 (95% CI 1.7-4.2)]. The APOP screener discriminated poorly for in-hospital mortality [AUC 0.56 (95% CI 0.48-0.63)] and for 30-days-mortality [AUC 0.62 (95% CI 0.55-0.68)]. Calibration plots revealed overestimation of the screener for both mortality risks.

Conclusion

The APOP screener had a poor predictive performance for in-hospital mortality and 30-days-mortality in older people hospitalized for COVID-19. Screening tools routinely used on the ED may not be useful to predict mortality in different than usual clinical circumstances such as during a pandemic of a novel disease.

© 2025. The Author(s).