Clinical scoring tools: which is best to predict clinical response and long-term outcomes?

Abstract

During the initial management of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), physicians need to assess severity of the disease and predict likely clinical outcomes of the patient. This information is used to make important clinical decisions, such as site of care, extent of laboratory work-up, and therapeutic interventions. CAP prediction scores were developed to help physicians define severity of disease and likely clinical outcomes of their patients. This article reviews the most relevant clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with CAP and outlines the role of these scores as tools to help physicians predict these outcomes.