Universidad Santo Tomás develops AI to predict pneumonia mortality risk

Researchers at Universidad Santo Tomás (UST) in Chile have developed an artificial intelligence model designed to identify patients at high risk of dying from pneumonia during hospitalization. The tool aims to provide early, objective alerts to help medical teams anticipate clinical decisions and optimize hospital resource management.

The model incorporates clinical variables, specifically focusing on patient frailty. According to Dr. Yeny Concha, director of the Master's in Interdisciplinary Clinical Gerontology at UST, frailty is a decisive factor in the evolution of elderly patients that age alone does not always reflect. By integrating frailty, the technology allows for a more integral view of patient vulnerability.

This tool is intended to support, rather than replace, healthcare teams. It is expected to be particularly useful during periods of high medical pressure, assisting in the prioritization of patients requiring close surveillance and helping with the planning of critical care beds.