Can the cHIS Score Predict ICU Mortality and Mechanical Ventilation in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients?!

Objectives: Hyperinflammatory syndrome in COVID-19 (cHIS) is a severe immune dysregulation characterized by excessive cytokine release, contributing to adverse outcomes. The cHIS score has been proposed as a prognostic tool for identifying patients at risk of poor outcomes. Aim of this study was to validate the predictive accuracy of the cHIS score for mechanical ventilation requirements and ICU mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Methods: This single-center, retrospective observational study included 85 critically ill COVID-19 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the University Clinical Center Tuzla between June 2020 and October 2020. Patients were stratified into groups on the basis of cHIS scores (< 3 and ≥3). cHIS score parameters, mechanical ventilation requirements and ICU mortality were analyzed. Logistic re-gression models and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves were em-ployed to assess the predictive validity of the cHIS score. Results: Among 85 patients, 60% had cHIS scores ≥3. A cHIS score ≥3 was associated with in-creased risk of mechanical ventilation and ICU mortality. The sensitivity and specificity for predicting ICU mortality were 76% and 66%, respectively, while for mechanical ventilation, sensitivity was 73% and specificity 65%. Multivariate analysis confirmed the cHIS score as an independent predictor of both outcomes after adjusting for age and comorbidities. Conclusion: The cHIS score reliably predicts ICU mortality and mechanical ventilation in critically ill COVID-19 patients, supporting early risk stratification and targeted interventions to improve patient outcomes.