The effect of modified early warning score (MEWS) and nutritional risk screening score (NRS-2002) on predicting length of hospital stay and mortality in patients admitted to hospital with influenza-like illness

In this study, we aimed to examine the effect of MEWS and NRS-2002 scores on predicting hospitalization time and mortality in patients admitted to the hospital with influenza- like illness. In our prospective study, patients with diagnosis codes associated with influenza-like illness (ILI), hospitalized in Hacettepe University Internal Medicine services and the emergency room were screened. Among the patients who met the ILI symptom criteria, the patients whose consent was obtained and the questionnaire could be applied were included in the study. 64 patients were recruited in the 2019- 2020 influenza season and 104 patients in the 2020-2021 influenza season. Influenza was detected in 31.2% (20) of 64 patients included in the study in the 2019-2020 season. Respiratory samples of 97 of 104 patients included in the 2020-2021 season were studied and SARS-CoV-2 was found in 65 (67%) of them. No influenza was detected in the 2020-2021 season. The most common systemic symptom in patients admitted to the hospital with ILI is fatigue; the most common respiratory symptom was cough. The most common comorbidities were CVD, diabetes and COPD. It was observed that MEWS and NRS-2002 scores had no effect on length of hospital stay and mortality. Influenza positives have a lower survival than negative ones; It was observed that SARS-CoV-2 positive patients had a longer hospital stay than negative patients. It has been observed that COVID-19 patients are younger and have fewer comorbidities than influenza patients. COPD and neurological diseases are more common in influenza patients than in COVID-19 patients. Influenza and COVID-19 patients were found to be similar in terms of MEUS, NRS-2002 values, length of stay and survival. Keywords: ILI, COVID-19, Influenza, MEWS, NRS-2002