Editor’s Capsule Summary
What is already known on this topic
The Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) was recently introduced as an easy tool to identify infected patients with high risk of subsequent deterioration.
What question this study addressed
The prognostic performance of qSOFA scores during the initial 24 hours of hospitalization to predict 28-day mortality among 1,395 patients identified in the emergency department (ED) with sepsis.
What this study adds to our knowledge
Positive qSOFA score (2 or more points) at ED presentation and 3, 6, and 24 hours had poor sensitivity and specificity for predicting 28-day mortality.
How this is relevant to clinical practice
This informs clinical practice by suggesting that qSOFA may need more investigation and refinement before widespread use as a method of risk stratification of ED patients with suspected infection.