Objective:

To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the modified early warning system in obstetrics and the maternal early warning marker for the detection of risk of complications in patients who were admitted to the maternal-fetal medicine service of the Concepción Palacios Maternity Hospital, between January 2022 and September 2023.

Methods:

Observational, retrospective, correlational and comparative study. Medical records of patients admitted to the service during the period described were analyzed. Two instruments were used to estimate the risk of complications: the modified obstetric early warning system and the maternal early warning marker. The results were correlated with the evolution of the patients, to calculate the performance indices of both alert systems for the detection of risk of complications.

Results:

The modified early warning system in obstetrics has greater specificity and positive predictive value than the maternal early warning marker, also presenting a good level. While sensitivity is higher in the maternal early warning marker, although it only reaches a regular level. Finally, the negative predictive value of the modified early warning system in obstetrics is slightly higher, although both are at a poor level.

Conclusion:

Early warning systems are a useful tool for the detection of abnormalities and timely care in obstetric patients. In this study, both systems identified more than 50% of patients with a high risk of death at the time of admission, most of which were due to hemorrhagic causes and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.