Cosios-Sarmiento et al. (2026)
Abstract
Introduction: Early warning scores translate physiological changes and clinical monitoring signs
into response thresholds. In inpatient settings, nursing staff play a central role by performing serial
monitoring, calculating or validating scores, recognizing trajectories of deterioration, and initiating
escalation of care. Objective: To synthesize available evidence regarding the impact of early
detection of clinical deterioration—using nursing-administered early warning scores—on
mortality, cardiorespiratory arrest, unplanned intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and other
adverse events. Methods: A focused systematic review and update following PRISMA 2020
guidelines. Literature was searched up to April 30, 2026, in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, SciELO,
and Google Scholar; this was supplemented by reference tracking and cross-verification with a
contemporary systematic review of NEWS/NEWS2. Priority was given to comparative or
implementation studies with retrievable full text in which nursing staff directly participated in
measurement, scoring, monitoring, communication, or escalation. Studies focused exclusively on
prognosis without clinical implementation, abstracts lacking a full manuscript, and works focused
solely on the ICU were excluded. Results: Thirteen primary full-text studies formed the basis of
the synthesis. Evidence indicated that early warning systems improve the frequency and quality
of monitoring and can reduce serious events when integrated with response protocols. A cluster
trial involving 60,956 patients demonstrated improved monitoring and an association between
protocol adherence and lower mortality. In a quasi-experimental study, NEWS reduced
cardiorespiratory arrest (4.7% to 1.1%), unplanned ICU admission (5.3% to 1.7%), urgent surgery
(
6.3% to 0%), and acute kidney injury (6.8% to 1.1%). In contrast, some studies showed no
significant changes in clinical outcomes, suggesting that scoring alone is insufficient. The
systematic review of NEWS/NEWS2 published in 2026 estimated lower mortality (OR 0.79; 95%
CI 0.66–0.94), albeit with very high heterogeneity and low certainty. Conclusions: Early warning
scores support nursing surveillance and appear more effective when linked to a structured
response, timely escalation, and a culture that allows for summoning help without hierarchical
barriers. The evidence regarding mortality is favorable but of limited certainty; the effect is more
consistent regarding monitoring processes, early recognition, and certain adverse events than for
mortality alone.
Keywords: clinical deterioration; nursing; early warning score; NEWS; NEWS2; MEWS;
mortality; patient safety; rapid response.
1
. Introducción
Las escalas de alerta precoz (Early
Warning Scores, EWS) fueron
diseñadas para convertir variables
fisiológicas —frecuencia respiratoria,
saturación de oxígeno, presión
arterial, pulso, temperatura y nivel de
conciencia, entre otras— en una
puntuación que orienta la frecuencia
de observaciones y el nivel de
respuesta. NEWS y NEWS2 son los
sistemas más difundidos en adultos;
El deterioro clínico intrahospitalario
suele estar precedido por
alteraciones fisiológicas detectables
durante horas antes de un paro
cardiorrespiratorio,
traslado
no
planificado a cuidados intensivos o
muerte. La vigilancia intermitente
tradicional puede fallar si las
alteraciones
se
registran
sin
integrarse, si no se reconocen
tendencias o si la comunicación
clínica se retrasa.
MEWS
y
múltiples
variantes
continúan
institucionales
utilizándose, mientras que los
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