Background The Sepsis-3 criteria introduced the system that uses the Sequential Organ-Failure Assessment (SOFA) score to define sepsis. The cardiovascular SOFA (CV SOFA) scoring system needs modification due to the change in guideline-recommended vasopressors. In this study, we aimed to develop and to validate the modified CV SOFA score. Methods We developed, internally validated, and externally validated the modified CV SOFA score using the suspected infection cohort, sepsis cohort, and septic shock cohort. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. The modified CV SOFA score system was constructed with consideration of the recently recommended use of the vasopressor norepinephrine with or without lactate level. The predictive validity of the modified SOFA score was evaluated by the discrimination for the primary outcome. Discrimination was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC). Calibration was assessed using the calibration curve. We compared the prognostic performance of the original CV/total SOFA score and the modified CV/total SOFA score to detect mortality in patients with suspected infection, sepsis, or septic shock. Results We identified 7,393 patients in the suspected cohort, 4038 patients in the sepsis cohort, and 3,107 patients in the septic shock cohort in seven Korean emergency departments (EDs). The 28-day mortality rates were 7.9%, 21.4%, and 20.5%, respectively, in the suspected infection, sepsis, and septic shock cohorts. The model performance is higher when vasopressor and lactate were used in combination than the vasopressor only used model. The modified CV/total SOFA score was well-developed and internally and externally validated in terms of discrimination and calibration. Predictive validity of the modified CV SOFA was significantly higher than that of the original CV SOFA in the development set (0.682 vs 0.624, p < 0.001), test set (0.716 vs 0.638), and all other cohorts (0.648 vs 0.557, 0.674 vs 0.589). Calibration was modest. In the suspected infection cohort, the modified model classified more patients to sepsis (66.0 vs 62.5%) and identified more patients at risk of septic mortality than the SOFA score (92.6 vs 89.5%). Conclusions Among ED patients with suspected infection, sepsis, and septic shock, the newly-developed modified CV/total SOFA score had higher predictive validity and identified more patients at risk of septic mortality.

Objectives Only 5% to 10% of patients who visit the emergency department (ED) with isolated dizziness without neurologic abnormalities may have central lesions; however, it is important to distinguish central lesions through brain imaging. This study was conducted to create a nomogram to provide an objective medical basis for selectively performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) among patients with isolated dizziness. Methods This retrospective observational study enrolled patients who visited the ED of a tertiary hospital with isolated dizziness and underwent diffusion‐weighted MRI and subsequently consulted with the departments of neurology, neurosurgery, or otorhinolaryngology. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors in patients diagnosed with central lesions to create a nomogram with the significant variables. Results Of the 1,078 patients who were screened, 119 were diagnosed with central lesions. Significant variables in the multivariable logistic regression analysis were albumin levels (odds ratio [OR] = 0.339, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.188 to 0.610, p = 0.0003), inorganic phosphate levels (OR = 0.891, 95% CI = 0.832 to 0.954, p = 0.0010), history of ischemic stroke (OR = 3.170, 95% CI = 1.807 to 5.560, p < 0.0001), presyncope (OR = 3.152, 95% CI = 1.184 to 8.389, p = 0.0216), and nystagmus (OR = 0.365, 95% CI = 0.237 to 0.561, p < 0.0001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the nomogram created with these variables was 0.7315 (95% CI = 0.6842 to 0.7788, p < 0.0001). Conclusions Albumin, inorganic phosphate, previous stroke, presyncope, and nystagmus were associated with the predictive diagnosis of central lesions among patients admitted to the ED with isolated dizziness. The novel nomogram created using these variables can help in objectively determining the need for MRI in patients presenting with isolated dizziness to the ED.

The original article [1] mistakenly omitted a portion of affiliation #3 which has since been re-instated.