Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) Score
Predicts ICU mortality based on lab results and clinical data.
Use the most abnormal value for each parameter over a 24-hour period.
- Can be used in all patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).
- Calculate on admission and then serially, using the most abnormal values for each component over a 24-hour period.
- Also applicable in non-ICU settings to assess potential need for ICU admission.
Use clinical judgement to guide patient management, as this score does not validate the success or failure of a therapy.
Clinical Advice
If used in ICU patients, it is important to establish a baseline as soon as the patient arrives in the unit to allow assessment of score changes over the course of the illness.
Management
Information gathered from this tool can be used to:
- Track disease progression.
- Assess mortality risk.
- Guide prognostic discussions with patients and their family members.
- Support quality assessment.
- Provide data for clinical trials.
Additional Information
Interpretation:
|
SOFA Score |
Mortality if initial score |
Mortality if highest score |
|
0-1 |
0.0% |
0.0% |
|
2-3 |
6.4% |
1.5% |
|
4-5 |
20.2% |
6.7% |
|
6-7 |
21.5% |
18.2% |
|
8-9 |
33.3% |
26.3% |
|
10-11 |
50.0% |
45.8% |
|
12-14 |
95.2% |
80.0% |
|
>14 |
95.2% |
89.7% |
|
Mean SOFA Score |
Mortality |
|
0-1.0 |
1.2% |
|
1.1-2.0 |
5.4% |
|
2.1-3.0 |
20.0% |
|
3.1-4.0 |
36.1% |
|
4.1-5.0 |
73.1% |
|
>5.1 |
84.4% |
From Ferreira 2001.