COVID-19 taskforce publishes new risk classification tool

The National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce (NCCET) has developed a risk classification tool to guide clinicians making decisions about which people are most likely to benefit from drug treatments.

While the available evidence is not sufficient to enable the Taskforce to determine which individual patients are most likely to benefit from treatment, the recommended drugs are likely to be most effective in preventing severe illness and mortality in those people who are at highest risk of these outcomes.

The risk of developing severe illness is higher in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people due to inequity arising from social determinants of health.

The examples in the matrix are based on the clinical expertise of the Taskforce and are not definitive nor exhaustive. Clinicians should also consider whether people are unlikely to be able to access higher level care due to geographical remoteness or other factors. Feedback for the tool can be sent to guidelines@covid19evidence.net.au.