Ghada Shalaby Khalaf Mahran^1,, Mogedda Mohamed Mehany¹, Asmaa Atiaa Tolba¹

Background: National early warning score (NEWS) is consider the simplest system of physiological scoring attempts to identify deteriorating patients’ early so timely interventions can occur thus reducing serious adverse events. We aimed to evaluate the role of National early warning score in detecting and decreasing cardiorespiratory arrest amongst patients with acute coronary syndrome. Materials and Methods: a retrospective cohort study was undertaken on 60 patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) at Coronary Care Unit (CCU). Data collection occurred over 3 phases. Phase I (Pre-NEWS data collection); physiological parameters were extracted retrospectively between 1 May 2019 and 30 July 2019 using Electronic Health Intelligence System (HIS). Phase II: one-month (1st -30th August, 2019); introduction and training of critical care nurses and doctors in CCU about NEWS. Phase III: Post NEWS data collection; physiological parameters were collected directly from the patients with ACS between 1 September 2019 and 30 November 2019. Results: the mean of NEWS, was 1.42 and 5.52 for the Post NEWS and Pre NEWS groups respectively with a statistically significant difference between them (p<0.001). It was noticed that a significant decrease in cardiorespiratory arrest and death in Post NEWS group (36.6%, 20%) versus Pre NEWS group (66.7%, 56.7%) respectively. Conclusion: The NEWS was significantly effective in decreasing occurrence of cardiorespiratory arrest and death. So, the NEWS is a useful tool to identify patients with ACS at greatest risk of cardiorespiratory arrest. Therefore, applying the NEWS as a part of routine nursing assessment for all patients with ACS is highly recommended.

warning signs, cardiorespiratory arrest, early warning score and acute coronary syndrome