Development and Pilot of an Mpox Severity Scoring System.

Zucker, Jason; McLean, Jacob; Huang, Simian; DeLaurentis, Clare; Gunaratne, Shauna; Stoeckle, Kate; Glesby, Marshall J; Wilkin, Timothy J et al. · J Infect Dis · 2024

case_series · Level IV

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Abstract

Clinical severity scores facilitate comparisons to understand risk factors for severe illness. For the 2022 multinational monkeypox clade IIb virus outbreak, we developed a 7-item Mpox Severity Scoring System (MPOX-SSS) with initial variables refined by data availability and parameter correlation. Application of MPOX-SSS to the first 200 patients diagnosed with mpox revealed higher scores in those treated with tecovirimat, presenting >3 days after symptom onset, and with CD4 counts <200 cells/mm3. For individuals evaluated repeatedly, serial scores were concordant with clinical observations. The pilot MPOX-SSS demonstrated good discrimination, distinguished change over time, and identified higher scores in expected groups.

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