New scoring system to assess individual risk of severe COVID-19 disease
30.10.2020 09:46
Scientists from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and LMU Munich have presented a new scoring system for assessing the individual risk of developing a severe COVID-19 disease. The course of disease in SARS-CoV-2 infections varies greatly and depends on individual factors, such as pre-existing medical conditions or age. Assessing the individual risk of developing a severe disease therefore places high demands on physicians. The new scoring system is intended to assist in a uniform risk assessment. Knowing the individual score can then be used in a second step to assess possible career opportunities.
Businesses and companies have a duty of care for their employees, especially those who belong to a high-risk group. Assessing whether there is an increased need for protection requires in-depth knowledge of the individual's health status and the specific conditions in the workplace. As part of a risk assessment, employers, with the support of company physicians, determine the objective health risks present in the workplace. This includes the risk of infection.
With the IKKA score, scientists from Erlangen and Munich have now developed a new standardized instrument that supports physicians' risk assessment for a severe course of COVID-19. The procedure was primarily designed for use in occupational health and safety and serves as a concrete decision-making aid in everyday practice. The IKKA score is composed of four categories: immunosuppression, severity of existing pre-existing conditions, comorbidities/risk factors according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), and age, and evaluates these using a clear and easy-to-understand points system. Points are awarded in each category depending on the severity of the risk factors. Based on the total score, a comparison can then be made with the individual employee's risk of infection resulting from the risk assessment, and risk-adapted deployment options for particularly vulnerable workers can be sought. The strength of the new IKKA score lies in the standardization of risk assessment with the greatest possible clarity and minimal time expenditure, as well as in the consideration of existing recommendations of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS).
Professor Hans Drexler, Director of the Institute and Polyclinic for Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and President of the German Association of Occupational Health (DGAUM), commented on the IKKA score: "Until now, there has been no uniform approach to assessing the individual risk of employees. By developing the IKKA score, we have succeeded in providing physicians with a decision-making tool for assessing individual risk from SARS-CoV-2, thus contributing to the protection of vulnerable groups in the workplace."„
A detailed description of the new procedure can be viewed here: