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42/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 42 out of 100. End-of-life care

Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies

A total of 85 patients were enrolled; 28 (32.9%) were classified as NECPAL-positive and 57 (67.1%) as NECPAL-negative. NECPAL-positive patients had a significantly higher ICU mortality rate (32.1%) compared to NECPAL-negative patients (1.8%) (p < 0.001). The median ICU length of stay was slightly longer for NECPAL-positive patients [11.0 days (IQR: 8.0–16.2)] versus NECPAL-negative patients [10.0 days (IQR: 5.0–14.0)], though not statistically significant. Multivariable Firth penalized logistic regression confirmed NECPAL positivity as an independent predictor of ICU mortality (OR 19.55; 95% CI: 3.06–124.93; p < 0.001). In this study, NECPAL identified about one-third of ICU patients as having palliative care needs, who also showed a higher mortality risk. Integration with ICU severity scores may improve early recognition of these needs, warranting validation in larger multicenter studies.

Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris

APA 7th

Spadaro, S., Azzolina, D., Vuan, A., Colasanto, L., Manzetto, C., Busnardo, A., et al. (2025). Early Detection of Palliative Care Needs in Critically Ill Patients Using the NECPAL Tool. Journal of Clinical Medicine. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14176244

Vancouver

Spadaro S, Azzolina D, Vuan A, Colasanto L, Manzetto C, Busnardo A, et al. Early Detection of Palliative Care Needs in Critically Ill Patients Using the NECPAL Tool. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2025. doi:10.3390/jcm14176244. PMID: 40944003.

BibTeX

@article{spadaro2025-40944003,
  author  = {Spadaro, Savino and Azzolina, Danila and Vuan, Adelaide and Colasanto, Luigi and Manzetto, Cristiana and Busnardo, Alessandra and Filieri, Grazia and Fagogeni, Persefoni and others},
  title   = {{Early Detection of Palliative Care Needs in Critically Ill Patients Using the NECPAL Tool}},
  journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
  year    = {2025},
  doi     = {10.3390/jcm14176244},
  pmid    = {40944003},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14176244}
}

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Key findings

A total of 85 patients were enrolled; 28 (32.9%) were classified as NECPAL-positive and 57 (67.1%) as NECPAL-negative.
NECPAL-positive patients had a significantly higher ICU mortality rate (32.1%) compared to NECPAL-negative patients (1.8%) (p < 0.001).
The median ICU length of stay was slightly longer for NECPAL-positive patients [11.0 days (IQR: 8.0–16.2)] versus NECPAL-negative patients [10.0 days (IQR: 5.0–14.0)], though not statistically significant.
Multivariable Firth penalized logistic regression confirmed NECPAL positivity as an independent predictor of ICU mortality (OR 19.55; 95% CI: 3.06–124.93; p < 0.001).
In this study, NECPAL identified about one-third of ICU patients as having palliative care needs, who also showed a higher mortality risk.

Why it matters

This small study of 85 critically ill patients found that about one-third were identified by the NECPAL tool as having palliative care needs, and these patients had a significantly higher ICU mortality rate. It suggests integration with ICU severity scores may improve early recognition of palliative care needs, but the authors state this warrants validation in larger multicentre studies.

Study details

Participants85
Effect size32.9%; 67.1%; 32.1%
Evidence strengthLow

How this study scored 42/100

Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 40 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 42 out of 100.

Component	Points	Why
Journal tier	7 / 10	Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Clinical Medicine)
Journal's citation record	2 / 4	Journal of Clinical Medicine: journal h-index 188 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29)
Study design	0 / 12	No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Strength of evidence	1 / 5	Rated “low” in our summary
Peer-review validation	10 / 10	Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal.
How recent	4 / 5	2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here
Sample size	1 / 4	85 participants
Effect reported	2 / 3	Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test
Studied in people	3 / 3	Studied in people (participant count stated)
Randomised / blinded	0 / 2	No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Times cited	1 / 7	Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	0 / 5	0.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025
Impact for its field and year	2 / 6	Cited 1.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI)
Cited by studies here	0 / 6	No other study in this library cites it
Still being cited	0 / 4	Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	— / 4	OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author Loretta Gulmini holds only 7 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score
Institution's track record	1 / 3	University of Naples Federico II: institution h-index 862 (OpenAlex)
Multi-centre collaboration	2 / 3	OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country
Indexed in PubMed	2 / 2	Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40944003)
Free to read	2 / 2	Free to read
Points	40 / 96	Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 40 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 42 out of 100.
Total	42 / 100	—

What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →

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