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SOFA Score Calculator

Table of contents

What is the SOFA score?What variables are used in Sequential Organ Failure Assessment?How to interpret SOFA scoreReferences

The SOFA score calculator is a tool that helps to determine the extent of organ dysfunction in critically ill patients using six different criteria. This instrument can be used both in a clinical and research settings, and was initially created to assess organ failure in sepsis.

We try our best to make our Omni Calculators as precise and reliable as possible. However, this tool can never replace a professional doctor's assessment.

What is the SOFA score?

The SOFA score was developed in 1994 by a consensus of critical care physicians. It was initially defined as the Sepsis-Related Organ Failure Assessment, but since the score is not specific for sepsis, the name was changed to Sequential Organ Failure Assessment. It was primarily designed to describe and quantify morbidity (organ dysfunction), but several studies managed to confirm the relationship between organ dysfunction and mortality as well. Recently, a shorter version of the SOFA score — qSOFA score was introduced. If the mortality risk of Intensive Care Unit patients is something you are interested in, you can also check the Simplified Acute Physiology II Score — SAPS II calculator.

What variables are used in Sequential Organ Failure Assessment?

The SOFA score is composed of six variables — one for each organ system. They are graded from 0 to 4 according to the degree of dysfunction/failure of the relevant organ. You can find the scoring system and all variables in the table below.

SOFA score

Respiratory

Coagulation

Liver

[Pao2/FIO2, mmHg]

Platelets x10³/μL

Bilirubin, mg/dL

0

>400

>150

<1.2

1

<=400

<=150

1.2-1.9

2

<=300

<=100

2-5.9

3

<=200&

<=50

6-11.9

4

<=100&

<=20

>12

SOFA score

Cardiovascular system

Central nervous system

Kidneys

Hypotension

Glasgow Coma Scale

Creatinine, mg/dL or urine output ml/day

0

No hypotension

>15

<1.2

1

MAP < 70 mmHg

13-14

1.2-1.9

2

Dop<=5 or Dob (any dose)$

10-12

2-3.4

3

Dop>5 or epi<=0.1, or norepi<=0.1$

6-9

3.5-4.9 or <500

4

Dop>15 or epi>0.1, or norepi>0.1$

<6

>5 or <200

Legend:

  • & — values are with respiratory support;
  • $ — adrenergic agents administered for at least 1 hour (doses given are in μg/kg per minute);
  • FIO2 — fraction of inspired oxygen;
  • Norepi — norepinephrine;
  • Dob — dobutamine;
  • Dop — dopamine; and
  • Epi — epinephrine.

For the central nervous system assessment, we use the Glasgow Coma Scale. If you're not familiar with it, you might want to check the Glasgow Coma Scale calculator.

How to interpret SOFA score

The evaluation of the SOFA score throughout an ICU stay is a good prognostic indicator. However, independent of the initial score, an increase in the measured value during the first 48 hours of ICU admission indicates a mortality rate of at least 50%.

In the tables below, you will find information on how to interpret the SOFA score's results: initial, highest, and mean SOFA score. This information is based on study of Ferreira F.L. et al.

SOFA Score

Mortality Rate (%), Initial score

Mortality Rate (%), Highest score

0-1

0

0

2-3

44716

44566

4-5

20.2

44719

6-7

21.5

18.2

8-9

33.3

26.3

10-11

50

45.8

12-14

95.2

80

>14

95.2

89.7

Mean SOFA Score

Mortality Rate (%)

Mortality Rate (%), Highest score

0-1

44563

0

1.1-2

44685

44566

2.1-3

20

44719

3.1-4

36.1

18.2

4.1-5

73.1

26.3

>5.1

84.4

45.8

References

  • Vincent JL. Use of the SOFA score to assess the incidence of organ dysfunction/failure in intensive care units: results of a multicenter, prospective study. Working group on "sepsis-related problems" of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine.Crit Care Med. 1998;26(11):1793-800
  • Ferreira FL. Serial evaluation of the SOFA score to predict outcome in critically ill patients. JAMA. 2001 Oct 10;286(14):1754-8.

We try our best to make our Omni Calculators as precise and reliable as possible. However, this tool can never replace a professional medical advice.

mmHg (kPa)

×10³/μL

mg/dL(μmol/L)

Check the tables in the article to find out the mortality rate associated with your patient's score.

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