Application of "the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score" in predicting outcome in ICU patients with SIRS.

BACKGROUND: Various scoring systems have been developed to prioritize patient admission and management in ICU. The objective of this prospective, observational cohort study was to evaluate application of one such system, the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) Score in predicting outcome in ICU patients with SIRS.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty patients admitted to a six bed multidisciplinary ICU with SIRS were consecutively enrolled in the study and SOFA scores were calculated at zero hour, after 48 hrs, and after 96 hrs and patients followed till discharge from hospital.

RESULTS: When compared to outcome, the non survivors had high initial, mean and highest SOFA scores as compared to survivors. (p value = 0.002, <0.001, <0.001 respectively). Delta SOFA was not significantly associated with outcome. (p value= 0.117). The initial SOFA score > 11 predicted a mortality of 90%. (OR 23.72, 95%CI2.68-209.78, p=0.004). Similarly, mean SOFA score of > 7 predicted a mortality of 73.9% (OR 22.7, 95%CI 5.0 - 103.5, p<0.001) and high SOFA score > 11 predicted a mortality of 87.5% (OR 32.66, 95%CI 5.82-183.179, p< 0.001). Area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for mean SOFA was 0.825, for high SOFA was 0.817 and for initial SOFA was 0.708. Thus mean, high and initial SOFA scores were helpful in predicting between the survivors and the non survivors.

CONCLUSION: The SOFA scoring system is useful in predicting outcomes in ICU and thus help in proper utilization of ICU resources.