qSOFA Score for Sepsis
A bedside tool to identify patients with suspected infection who are at greater risk for a poor outcome (sepsis).
Medical Specialty:
intensive care
FOR PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY
This calculator is a support tool intended exclusively for health professionals. It does not replace clinical judgment. The final decision regarding diagnosis and treatment is the sole responsibility of the professional.
About this Calculator 💡
The qSOFA, or quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment, is a rapid clinical screening tool designed for use outside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), such as in emergency departments or general wards. Its main objective is to identify patients with suspected infection who are at high risk of developing sepsis and having poor clinical outcomes, such as mortality or prolonged ICU stay. The qSOFA consists of three simple clinical criteria that are easily assessed at the bedside: (1) a high respiratory rate, equal to or greater than 22 breaths per minute; (2) altered mental status, such as confusion or somnolence (typically a Glasgow Coma Scale score of less than 15); and (3) a low systolic blood pressure, equal to or less than 100 mmHg. The score ranges from 0 to 3, with one point awarded for each criterion present. A positive result, defined as a score of 2 or 3, indicates a high suspicion of organ dysfunction and signals the need for further diagnostic investigation, intensive monitoring, and a complete assessment of organ dysfunction using laboratory tests and, possibly, the full SOFA score. It is important to note that qSOFA does not diagnose sepsis, but rather stratifies patient risk.
Reference Values
- •Score 0-1: Low risk for poor outcomes.
- •Score ≥ 2: High risk for poor outcomes. Consider further investigation for organ dysfunction (e.g., full SOFA score).
Formula
Calculation Methodology 1 point for each criterion met: Respiratory Rate ≥ 22, Altered Mental Status (GCS < 15), Systolic BP ≤ 100.
Reference
Seymour CW, Liu VX, Iwashyna TJ, et al. Assessment of Clinical Criteria for Sepsis: For the Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3). JAMA. 2016;315(8):762–774.