Abstract

The Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score, composed of respiratory rate >/=22; systolic blood pressure </=100 mm of Hg; altered mental status)is a validated score for assessment of life threatening organ failure in patients with infection. In this study relation between qSOFA score and outcome in emergency department with and without suspected infection was assessed.

Methods: We performed an observational study of patients older than thirteen years of age presenting to medicine emergency department in July 2016.Patients of psychiatry, dentistry, with referral to higher centre were excluded from the study. Calculation of qSOFA score was done by vital signs and Glasgow Coma Scale for mental status. Patients receiving intravenous antibiotic in emergency department were presumed to have suspected infection. Appropriate statistical tests were used for analysis.

Results: 550 patients were included in the study.61.09% were men and 38.9% were women. qSOFA score was associated with mortality, ICU admission, length of hospital stay significantly. qSOFA score was associated significantly with mortality in both patients with and without infection.

Conclusion: qSOFA score may be an easy and quick tool to identify patients at risk of deterioration and need of utmost supervision. Further validation of qSOFA score in this regard in larger population may bring a ray of hope in prediction of prognosis in health resource constraint countries.

Abhinandya Mukhopadhyay

Post Graduate Student

Department of General Medicine, DMCH