The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score for predicting outcome in patients with severe sepsis and evidence of hypoperfusion at the time of emergency department presentation*

Organ failure worsens outcome in sepsis. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score numerically quantifies the number and severity of failed organs. We examined the utility of the SOFA score for assessing outcome of patients with severe sepsis with evidence of hypoperfusion at the time of emergency department (ED) presentation.

Prospective observational study.

Urban, tertiary ED with an annual census of >110,000. PATIENTS: ED patients with severe sepsis with evidence of hypoperfusion. INCLUSION CRITERIA: suspected infection, two or more criteria of systemic inflammation, and either systolic blood pressure or=4 mmol/L. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: age