Comparison of qSOFA Score, SIRS Criteria, and SOFA Score as predictors of mortality in patients with sepsis.

Objectives: Early diagnosis and treatment of sepsis are associated with a better outcome. With the change in the definition of sepsis, SOFA score and qSOFA score (heart rate, systolic blood pressure and Glasgow coma scale) were introduced and SIRS criteria were removed. This study compared the qSOFA score, SIRS criteria and SOFA score as predictors of mortality in patients with sepsis.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: Department of General Medicine of a tertiary hospital.

Participants: The study included 116 patients.

Interventions: SOFA scores (range, 0 [best] to 24 [worst] points), SIRS status (range, 0 [best] to 4 [worst] criteria), and qSOFA scores (range, 0 [best] to 3 [worst] points) were calculated using physiological and laboratory parameters recorded within the first 24 hours of ICU admission.

Main Outcome Measures: SOFA, qSOFA, and SIRS scores were calculated and measured using physiological and laboratory parameters. Patients were followed till mortality (non-survivors) or discharge from the hospital (survivors). Data were analysed using software SPSS version 20.

Results: 54 (46.6%) of included patients died. Higher SOFA, qSOFA, and SIRS scores; tachycardia; hypotension; hypoxemia; basophilia; hypoproteinemia; hypoalbuminemia; and need for inotropic support and mechanical ventilation significantly associated with increased mortality. The area under the receiver operating curve for qSOFA ≥2 (0.678; p=0.001) and SOFA (0.74; p=0.000) were comparable and significant, whereas SIRS ≥2 (0.580, p=0.139) was not statistically significant.

Conclusions: A qSOFA score of greater than 2 is comparable to SOFA and is better than SIRS score greater than 2 for predicting mortality.

Funding: None indicated.