Development and validation of a simple-to-use nomogram to predict the deterioration and survival of patients with COVID-19

BMC Infect Dis. 2021 Apr 16;21(1):356. doi: 10.1186/s12879-021-06065-z.

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has forced physicians to quickly determine the patient's condition and choose treatment strategies. This study aimed to build and validate a simple tool that can quickly predict the deterioration and survival of COVID-19 patients.

Methods: A total of 351 COVID-19 patients admitted to the Third People's Hospital of Yichang between 9 January to 25 March 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were randomly grouped into training (n = 246) or a validation (n = 105) dataset. Risk factors associated with deterioration were identified using univariate logistic regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. The factors were then incorporated into the nomogram. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the survival of patients between the low- and high-risk groups divided by the cut-off point.

Results: The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to construct the nomogram via four parameters (white blood cells, C-reactive protein, lymphocyte≥0.8 × 109/L, and lactate dehydrogenase ≥400 U/L). The nomogram showed good discriminative performance with the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) of 0.945 (95% confidence interval: 0.91-0.98), and good calibration (P = 0.539). Besides, the nomogram showed good discrimination performance and good calibration in the validation and total cohorts (AUROC = 0.979 and AUROC = 0.954, respectively). Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the model had clinical application value. Kaplan-Meier analysis illustrated that low-risk patients had a significantly higher 8-week survival rate than those in the high-risk group (100% vs 71.41% and P < 0.0001).

Conclusion: A simple-to-use nomogram with excellent performance in predicting deterioration risk and survival of COVID-19 patients was developed and validated. However, it is necessary to verify this nomogram using a large-scale multicenter study.

Keywords: COVID-19; Deterioration; Nomogram; Prediction; Survival.

Publication types

  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis
  • COVID-19 / diagnosis*
  • COVID-19 / mortality*
  • China
  • Female
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / blood
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nomograms*
  • Pandemics
  • ROC Curve
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • C-Reactive Protein
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase