British scientists have developed a four-level scoring model for predicting the risk of death in patients hospitalised with COVID-19. They claim it should help doctors quickly decide on the best care for each patient, Reuters reports.

Four COVID-19 risk groups

The tool, detailed in research published in the BMJ medical journal, helps doctors put patients into one of four COVID-19 risk groups - from low, to intermediate, high, or very high risk of death.

With hospitals around the world facing waves of COVID-19 patients, doctors have said they need quicker and more accurate prediction tools to swiftly identify those patients at highest risk of dying and help get them targeted treatment.

4C Mortality Score - to be used by clinicians

The new model - called the 4C (Coronavirus Clinical Characterisation Consortium) Mortality Score - uses data such as age, sex, underlying conditions, breathing and blood oxygen levels.

It is intended for use by clinicians and is designed to be easy-to-use, and require only parameters that are commonly available at hospital presentation.

This is an infographic that visualises risk, based on observed mortality among hospitalised adult COVID19 patients recruited into the ISARIC 4C study in the UK.

Try the 4C Mortality Score HERE.