Making hospital risk scores fair for everyone
Promoting algorithmic equity in in-hospital mortality prediction
This project aims to create fairer tools that help doctors estimate the risk of death for hospitalized patients, especially those with serious conditions like acute respiratory failure or sepsis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11189789 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Currently, some tools used in hospitals to predict a patient's risk of death might not be equally accurate for everyone, sometimes overestimating risk for Black patients and underestimating it for white patients. This project seeks to build a new, more balanced prediction tool that works fairly across different groups, including those defined by race, ethnicity, age, and language. We will focus on patients hospitalized with acute respiratory failure and sepsis, as these conditions carry high risks and are often subject to biased predictions. The goal is to ensure these important medical tools provide accurate information for all patients, helping to improve healthcare for everyone.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients who are hospitalized, especially those with acute respiratory failure or sepsis, would benefit from the improved accuracy of these risk prediction tools.
Not a fit: Patients who are not hospitalized or do not have conditions like acute respiratory failure or sepsis would not directly benefit from this specific tool.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more accurate and equitable care decisions for all hospitalized patients, reducing health disparities.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has identified existing biases in hospital mortality prediction tools, but this project aims to develop a novel, fairness-informed solution.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kohn, Rachel — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Kohn, Rachel
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.