Quick SOFA (qSOFA) Score Components
The qSOFA score consists of three simple bedside criteria: respiratory rate ≥22 breaths per minute, systolic blood pressure ≤100 mmHg, and altered mental status (Glasgow Coma Scale <15), with each criterion worth 1 point. 1, 2
The Three Components
Clinical Interpretation
A qSOFA score ≥2 indicates high-risk patients with suspected infection who have >10% risk of in-hospital mortality and require immediate full SOFA assessment and consideration for ICU-level care 2, 4
The qSOFA serves as a rapid bedside screening tool to identify patients at higher risk of adverse outcomes, including prolonged ICU stay and death 2, 4
Key Implementation Points
Calculate qSOFA at bedside immediately when infection is suspected, as it requires no laboratory tests and uses only vital signs and mental status 2
For high-risk patients (qSOFA ≥2), the American College of Emergency Physicians recommends re-calculating the score every 30 minutes to track trajectory of organ dysfunction 2
Do not use qSOFA as a definitive diagnostic criterion for sepsis itself—it is a screening tool that should prompt full SOFA score calculation (which requires an increase of ≥2 points to diagnose sepsis) 4
Common Pitfalls
qSOFA has poor sensitivity in prehospital settings (16.3% sensitivity for severe sepsis/septic shock), predominantly because systolic blood pressure and respiratory rate may not yet meet thresholds in the dynamic early phase of sepsis 5
The score performs better during ED stay, with sensitivity increasing to 67.4% as sepsis evolves 5
qSOFA should not replace clinical judgment—combining it with other clinical information (age, nursing home status, fever, tachycardia) can identify more at-risk patients who may benefit from time-critical interventions 5