SOFA score
Pronunciation: SO-fa
Also written as: SOFA — Sequential Organ Failure Assessment
A scoring system used to track organ dysfunction in critically ill patients over time.
Full Definition
The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score is a widely used organ dysfunction scoring system in surgical critical care that evaluates six organ systems: respiratory (PaO2/FiO2 ratio), cardiovascular (mean arterial pressure and vasopressor requirements), hepatic (bilirubin), coagulation (platelets), renal (creatinine or urine output), and neurologic (Glasgow Coma Scale). Each organ system is scored from 0-4, with higher scores indicating greater dysfunction. The SOFA score is calculated daily to track organ dysfunction progression and is a key component of the Sepsis-3 definition. It provides objective assessment of illness severity and helps guide therapeutic decisions in the ICU.
Usage
Usage note: Always capitalize SOFA when referring to the score. Use 'delta SOFA' to describe change over time.
In Context
- "The patient's SOFA score increased from 6 to 10 over 48 hours, indicating worsening organ dysfunction." — Critical care assessment
- "A delta SOFA score ≥2 confirmed the diagnosis of sepsis." — Diagnostic documentation