Diagnostic Accuracy of qSOFA Score for the Diagnosis of Sepsis in General Wards: a Single Center Cohort Study

The sepsis, which is considered as multi-organ dysfunction induced by infection, is a one of leading causes of death in hospital. In 2016, the third international consensus has modified the definition of sepsis from infection with >=2 of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria to infection with >=2 of sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score. This new definition, which well reflects the organ dysfunction nature of sepsis, however makes it difficult to diagnose sepsis in general wards. An alternative of process was put forward to compensate this weakness. For each infection patient in general, access a quick SOFA (qSOFA), if it is above 2 score, then conduct laboratory examination to get a SOFA score. This process is helpful to find out sepsis, but undoubtedly leave out some patients who meet the SOFA criteria without qSOFA >=2. Besides, there are also some patients who has a qSOFA >=2 however do not meet the SOFA criteria. Whether those patients have better survival rate is unclear. This prospective cohort is aimed to compare prognosis of patients with different SOFA, qSOFA score, therefore access the diagnostic accuracy of qSOFA in the diagnosis of sepsis, eventually evaluate the feasibility of using qSOFA as a complete replacement of SOFA in general wards.