qSOFA stands for quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment.
What does qSOFA mean?
a fast bedside score to flag patients at risk from sepsis
qSOFA stands for quick sequential organ failure assessment, a simplified bedside tool introduced in 2016 to quickly identify patients with suspected infection who are at higher risk of poor outcomes. It uses three criteria, each worth one point: respiratory rate of 22 breaths per minute or more, altered mental status (a Glasgow Coma Scale below 15), and systolic blood pressure of 100 mmHg or less. A score of 2 or more suggests a higher risk of organ dysfunction and death, and should prompt closer assessment for sepsis. Unlike the full SOFA score, qSOFA needs no laboratory tests.
When is qSOFA used?
qSOFA is used in emergency departments and general wards, outside the intensive care unit, as a rapid sepsis prompt.
Frequently asked questions
What does qSOFA stand for?
qSOFA stands for quick sequential organ failure assessment, a fast bedside sepsis risk score.
What are the three qSOFA criteria?
Respiratory rate of 22 or more, altered mental status, and systolic blood pressure of 100 mmHg or less. Each is worth one point.
What does a qSOFA score of 2 or more mean?
It suggests a higher risk of organ dysfunction and death, and should prompt closer assessment for sepsis.
How is qSOFA different from SOFA?
qSOFA is a simplified bedside version that needs no laboratory tests, while the full SOFA score does.