qSOFA Score Calculator

What Is the qSOFA Score (Quick SOFA)?

The quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score is a simplified bedside clinical prediction tool introduced by the Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3) in 2016. It is designed to quickly screen adult patients with suspected or documented infection outside the intensive care unit (such as in emergency departments, medical-surgical wards, or ambulatory care settings) who are at high risk for in-hospital mortality or extended ICU admission.

Unlike the full SOFA score, which requires extensive laboratory tests (such as arterial blood gas analysis, platelet count, bilirubin, and creatinine), the qSOFA score relies exclusively on three bedside clinical assessments that can be measured repeatedly without waiting for lab results.

The 3 qSOFA Bedside Criteria

Each of the following three criteria is assigned $1$ point when present (total score range $0$ to $3$):

• 1. Altered Mental Status (+1 point): Any acute reduction in neurological responsiveness, defined as a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score < 15, or documented acute confusion, delirium, or encephalopathy.
• 2. Tachypnea (+1 point): Elevated respiratory rate of ≥ 22 breaths per minute.
• 3. Hypotension (+1 point): Low systolic blood pressure (SBP) of ≤ 100 mmHg.

Interpreting the qSOFA Score

qSOFA vs. SIRS vs. Full SOFA

Historically, sepsis screening relied on the Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) criteria (temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and white blood cell count). However, SIRS had low specificity because fever and tachycardia occur in many non-life-threatening conditions.

The Sepsis-3 consensus introduced qSOFA to focus specifically on mortality risk and acute organ dysfunction rather than generic inflammation. While a full SOFA score is the gold standard for defining organ failure in intensive care units, qSOFA serves as an immediate early warning alert on general hospital floors.

Explore related clinical assessment calculators including our MEWS Score Calculator, CURB-65 Calculator, and Mean Arterial Pressure Calculator.