Artificial intelligence is being extremely helpful in health care settings. Researchers have designed a new AI tool that can predict death risk from COVID-19 among patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
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‘AI tool that took patient's laboratory results along with age, body mass index (BMI), and comorbidities showed improved efficacy in predicting death risk from COVID-19’
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While Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in health care, this new tool is designed in such a way that the risk of death due to COVID-19 can be predicted earlier by means of using patient details admitted in the healthcare settings. 
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Pilot study with two models of AI tool
Researchers conducted a pilot study using this new tool at 13 VA medical centers. The tool prepares a report with 120-day mortality risk scores for patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Two models of the tool were tested of which the first one uses factors like age, body mass index (BMI), and comorbidities from the Veteran's electronic health record, and the second one uses the same along with Veterans' lab findings and vital signs evaluated at the time of admission.
The second model showed a significant accuracy in predicting COVID-related mortality. "While a few comorbidities on their own are predictive of mortality, such as diabetes and dementia, we've found that the amount of and severity of comorbidities in a patient is the best way to use them to predict mortality," said Strebel.
Limitations of the AI tool
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Apart from this, the team opines that this AI tool could help doctors identify Veterans at high risk of suicide, interpret laboratory findings of cancer patients, and choose the best therapy as per the patient's health condition.
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Source-Medindia