Evaluating the McMahon score for predicting mortality in earthquake-induced rhabdomyolysis: a retrospective study

Abstract Background In natural disasters like earthquakes, building collapses can trap individuals, causing crush syndrome and rhabdomyolysis. This life-threatening condition often leads to acute kidney injury. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of the McMahon score in predicting mortality due to rhabdomyolysis in patients affected by the earthquake. Methods This is a retrospective observational study. In this study, the clinical and laboratory data of patients who presented to the emergency department due to the earthquake were analyzed. The McMahon score was calculated by evaluating factors such as creatine kinase, serum creatinine levels, age, and gender. Results The study included 151 patients, of whom 74 (49.0%) were male and 77 (51.0%) were female. In the univariate model, significant (P < .05) effectiveness was observed in differentiating between patients with and without mortality for McMahon score and the risk of acute kidney injury. At a McMahon score cutoff of 6, significant effectiveness was also observed, with an area under the curve of 0.723. At this cutoff value, the sensitivity was 80.0% and the specificity was 64.5%. Conclusions The use of the McMahon score in emergency medicine and disaster management plays a crucial role in rapid decision-making processes due to its effectiveness in predicting mortality.