Development and validation of the HNC-LL score for predicting the severity of coronavirus disease 2019

EBioMedicine. 2020 Jul:57:102880. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.102880. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

Abstract

Background: Information regarding risk factors associated with severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is limited. This study aimed to develop a model for predicting COVID-19 severity.

Methods: Overall, 690 patients with confirmed COVID-19 were recruited between 1 January and 18 March 2020 from hospitals in Honghu and Nanchang; finally, 442 patients were assessed. Data were categorised into the training and test sets to develop and validate the model, respectively.

Findings: A predictive HNC-LL (Hypertension, Neutrophil count, C-reactive protein, Lymphocyte count, Lactate dehydrogenase) score was established using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The HNC-LL score accurately predicted disease severity in the Honghu training cohort (area under the curve [AUC]=0.861, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.800-0.922; P<0.001); Honghu internal validation cohort (AUC=0.871, 95% CI: 0.769-0.972; P<0.001); and Nanchang external validation cohort (AUC=0.826, 95% CI: 0.746-0.907; P<0.001) and outperformed other models, including CURB-65 (confusion, uraemia, respiratory rate, BP, age ≥65 years) score model, MuLBSTA (multilobular infiltration, hypo-lymphocytosis, bacterial coinfection, smoking history, hypertension, and age) score model, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio model. The clinical significance of HNC-LL in accurately predicting the risk of future development of severe COVID-19 was confirmed.

Interpretation: We developed an accurate tool for predicting disease severity among COVID-19 patients. This model can potentially be used to identify patients at risks of developing severe disease in the early stage and therefore guide treatment decisions.

Funding: This work was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (grant no. 81972897) and Guangdong Province Universities and Colleges Pearl River Scholar Funded Scheme (2015).

Keywords: COVID-19; HNC-LL; Prediction; SARS-COV-2; Severity.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis*
  • Coronavirus Infections / pathology*
  • Cytokine Release Syndrome / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / pathology
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / analysis
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutrophils / cytology
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / pathology*
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Severity of Illness Index*

Substances

  • C-Reactive Protein
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase