eng Oriental Scientific Publishing Company Biomedical and Pharmacology Journal 0974-6242 2026-06-10 19 2 72225 article Intira Anantpinijwatna 1 Akkharadet Nammuntri 1 Patorn Piromchai 2 Department of otolaryngology, Mahasarakham hospital, Mahasarakham, Thailand Department of otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, KhonKaen University, Thailand Upper airway obstruction (UAO) is a potentially life-threatening condition requiring prompt recognition and timely airway intervention. Accurate bedside assessment tools are essential to facilitate early detection, effective communication, and appropriate management. The Mahasarakham Hospital Upper Airway Obstruction score (MSKH-UAO score) was developed to standardize clinical assessment and guide urgent decision-making; however, its diagnostic accuracy has not yet been systematically assessed. This study aimed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the Mahasarakham Hospital Upper Airway Obstruction scorefor predicting the need for emergency airway intervention.This retrospective diagnostic study was conducted at Mahasarakham Hospital, Thailand. Medical records of patients diagnosed with UAO and assessed using the MSKH-UAO score between February 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024, were reviewed.Patients with incomplete data or those scheduled for prophylactic tracheostomy were excluded. The primary outcome was the requirement for emergency airway intervention, defined as immediate endotracheal intubation or emergency tracheostomy based on clinical assessment by the attending physician. Diagnostic performance was assessed using sensitivity, specificity, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed, including estimation of the area under the curve (AUC).A total of 90 patients were included in the final analysis, with an average age of 54.29 years (ranging from 4 to 94 years).Infection was the most common etiology of UAO, followed by head and neck malignancy. The MSKH-UAO score demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for predicting airway intervention, with an AUC of 0.9409. A cutoff score of ≥ 6 provided a favorable balance between sensitivity (75.0%) and specificity (98.65%). Higher cutoff values yielded increased specificity but reduced sensitivity.The MSKH-UAO score is a reliable and accurate bedside assessment tool for identifying patients with upper airway obstruction who require urgent airway intervention. A cutoff score of 6 may serve as an effective early warning threshold, supporting timely clinical decision-making and potentially reducing morbidity and mortality associated with delayed airway management. https://biomedpharmajournal.org/vol19no2/sensitivity-and-specificity-of-mahasarakham-hospital-upper-airway-obstruction-score-mskh-uao-score-for-predicting-emergency-airway-intervention/ Score Sensitivity Specificity Upper airway obstruction UAO