External validation and comparison of SAFE QUAKE and dialysis score in earthquake related crush injuries

Abstract Background This study aimed to compare the predictive accuracy of two scoring systems—Seismic Assessment of Kidney Function to Rule Out Dialysis Requirement (SAFE-QUAKE) and the Dialysis Score—developed to assess the need for dialysis in patients with crush injuries admitted to the emergenc...

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Main Authors: Suleyman Alpar, Sarper Yilmaz, Çağrı Safa Buyurgan, Akif Yarkaç, Neslihan Ergun Suzer, Ali Cankut Tatlıparmak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:BMC Emergency Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-025-01322-9
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author Suleyman Alpar
Sarper Yilmaz
Çağrı Safa Buyurgan
Akif Yarkaç
Neslihan Ergun Suzer
Ali Cankut Tatlıparmak
author_facet Suleyman Alpar
Sarper Yilmaz
Çağrı Safa Buyurgan
Akif Yarkaç
Neslihan Ergun Suzer
Ali Cankut Tatlıparmak
author_sort Suleyman Alpar
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background This study aimed to compare the predictive accuracy of two scoring systems—Seismic Assessment of Kidney Function to Rule Out Dialysis Requirement (SAFE-QUAKE) and the Dialysis Score—developed to assess the need for dialysis in patients with crush injuries admitted to the emergency department (ED) following the February 6 Türkiye earthquakes. Methods In this retrospective observational study, the performance of the SAFE-QUAKE and Dialysis Score systems were evaluated using data from a university hospital that was independent from the centers where these scores were originally developed. The study included patients admitted to the ED after the same earthquakes. Results The SAFE-QUAKE score demonstrated a higher negative predictive value (NPV) for ruling out dialysis (93.4%), whereas the Dialysis Score had superior positive predictive value (PPV) (71.0%). Although the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was higher for SAFE-QUAKE [0.894 (95% CI: 0.831–0.957)] than for the Dialysis Score [0.836 (95% CI: 0.738–0.934)], this difference was not statistically significant (Z = 1.415; p = 0.157). According to the Net Reclassification Index (NRI), SAFE-QUAKE provided a clear advantage in correctly reclassifying non-dialysis patients to a lower-risk category [NRI⁻ = 0.491 (95% CI: 0.321–0.643)], correctly downgrading 74.5% of such patients while misclassifying only 25.5%. Across various hypothetical prevalence rates, SAFE-QUAKE consistently provided higher NPVs (e.g., 98.9% at 5% prevalence), while the Dialysis Score maintained higher PPVs (e.g., 28% at 5% prevalence; 88.0% at 50% prevalence). Conclusion Following catastrophic disasters such as the February 6 Türkiye earthquakes, the capacity of healthcare facilities to provide dialysis becomes a key factor in ED decision-making. When patients are to be transferred to facilities without dialysis capabilities, triage based on the SAFE-QUAKE score can help safely identify those at low risk for dialysis. Conversely, if the receiving center has dialysis capacity, the Dialysis Score can be used to prioritize patients more likely to require dialysis. The sequential use of both scores may enhance triage accuracy by prioritizing SAFE-QUAKE for rapid ED assessment and Dialysis Score for refining interfacility transfer decisions based on resource intensity. Clinical trial number Not applicable.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1471-227X
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publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher BMC
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series BMC Emergency Medicine
spelling doaj-art-ae8f4adf7a42448392ac938abed936c82025-08-24T11:11:24ZengBMCBMC Emergency Medicine1471-227X2025-08-0125111110.1186/s12873-025-01322-9External validation and comparison of SAFE QUAKE and dialysis score in earthquake related crush injuriesSuleyman Alpar0Sarper Yilmaz1Çağrı Safa Buyurgan2Akif Yarkaç3Neslihan Ergun Suzer4Ali Cankut Tatlıparmak5Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul Beykent UniversityDepartment of Emergency Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Kartal Dr. Lutfi Kirdar City HospitalDeptartment of Emergency Medicine, Mersin University Medical FacultyDeptartment of Emergency Medicine, Mersin University Medical FacultyDepartment of Emergency Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Kocaeli Darıca Farabi Training and Research HospitalFaculty of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Uskudar UniversityAbstract Background This study aimed to compare the predictive accuracy of two scoring systems—Seismic Assessment of Kidney Function to Rule Out Dialysis Requirement (SAFE-QUAKE) and the Dialysis Score—developed to assess the need for dialysis in patients with crush injuries admitted to the emergency department (ED) following the February 6 Türkiye earthquakes. Methods In this retrospective observational study, the performance of the SAFE-QUAKE and Dialysis Score systems were evaluated using data from a university hospital that was independent from the centers where these scores were originally developed. The study included patients admitted to the ED after the same earthquakes. Results The SAFE-QUAKE score demonstrated a higher negative predictive value (NPV) for ruling out dialysis (93.4%), whereas the Dialysis Score had superior positive predictive value (PPV) (71.0%). Although the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was higher for SAFE-QUAKE [0.894 (95% CI: 0.831–0.957)] than for the Dialysis Score [0.836 (95% CI: 0.738–0.934)], this difference was not statistically significant (Z = 1.415; p = 0.157). According to the Net Reclassification Index (NRI), SAFE-QUAKE provided a clear advantage in correctly reclassifying non-dialysis patients to a lower-risk category [NRI⁻ = 0.491 (95% CI: 0.321–0.643)], correctly downgrading 74.5% of such patients while misclassifying only 25.5%. Across various hypothetical prevalence rates, SAFE-QUAKE consistently provided higher NPVs (e.g., 98.9% at 5% prevalence), while the Dialysis Score maintained higher PPVs (e.g., 28% at 5% prevalence; 88.0% at 50% prevalence). Conclusion Following catastrophic disasters such as the February 6 Türkiye earthquakes, the capacity of healthcare facilities to provide dialysis becomes a key factor in ED decision-making. When patients are to be transferred to facilities without dialysis capabilities, triage based on the SAFE-QUAKE score can help safely identify those at low risk for dialysis. Conversely, if the receiving center has dialysis capacity, the Dialysis Score can be used to prioritize patients more likely to require dialysis. The sequential use of both scores may enhance triage accuracy by prioritizing SAFE-QUAKE for rapid ED assessment and Dialysis Score for refining interfacility transfer decisions based on resource intensity. Clinical trial number Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-025-01322-9EarthquakeEmergency departmentDialysisRenal replacement therapyDisasterCrush syndrome
spellingShingle Suleyman Alpar
Sarper Yilmaz
Çağrı Safa Buyurgan
Akif Yarkaç
Neslihan Ergun Suzer
Ali Cankut Tatlıparmak
External validation and comparison of SAFE QUAKE and dialysis score in earthquake related crush injuries
BMC Emergency Medicine
Earthquake
Emergency department
Dialysis
Renal replacement therapy
Disaster
Crush syndrome
title External validation and comparison of SAFE QUAKE and dialysis score in earthquake related crush injuries
title_full External validation and comparison of SAFE QUAKE and dialysis score in earthquake related crush injuries
title_fullStr External validation and comparison of SAFE QUAKE and dialysis score in earthquake related crush injuries
title_full_unstemmed External validation and comparison of SAFE QUAKE and dialysis score in earthquake related crush injuries
title_short External validation and comparison of SAFE QUAKE and dialysis score in earthquake related crush injuries
title_sort external validation and comparison of safe quake and dialysis score in earthquake related crush injuries
topic Earthquake
Emergency department
Dialysis
Renal replacement therapy
Disaster
Crush syndrome
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-025-01322-9
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AT sarperyilmaz externalvalidationandcomparisonofsafequakeanddialysisscoreinearthquakerelatedcrushinjuries
AT cagrısafabuyurgan externalvalidationandcomparisonofsafequakeanddialysisscoreinearthquakerelatedcrushinjuries
AT akifyarkac externalvalidationandcomparisonofsafequakeanddialysisscoreinearthquakerelatedcrushinjuries
AT neslihanergunsuzer externalvalidationandcomparisonofsafequakeanddialysisscoreinearthquakerelatedcrushinjuries
AT alicankuttatlıparmak externalvalidationandcomparisonofsafequakeanddialysisscoreinearthquakerelatedcrushinjuries