The SOFA Score and EWS: Is It Time for an Update?

Abstract

Background: Intensive care unit (ICU) functions as a structured environment dedicated to providing intensive medical attention to patients in critical condition, monitoring, and organ support to treat life-threatening organ failure. Sepsis occurs when the immune system reacts severely to infection, leading to damage to the body’s tissues and organs. Data from The Global Burden of Disease Sepsis Report estimates 48.9 million sepsis cases annually, with 11 million cases leading to death. Therefore, the early warning score (EWS) and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score systems have the potential to estimate the follow-up of patients treated in the ICU. Evaluation of prognosis based on SOFA and EWS scores is not yet confirmed for the medical state of individuals with sepsis.Objective: To determine the correlation of SOFA score and EWS by the duration of ICU stays for sepsis patients at Rumah Sakit Umum Imelda Pekerja Indonesia Medan.Methods: This study used an analytical observational approach employing cross-sectional design. The method of gathering data relies on medical records and samples are collected through total sampling.Result:  On 64 patients diagnosed with sepsis and treated in the ICU of Rumah Sakit Umum Imelda Pekerja Indonesia Medan are obtained employing the Spearman correlation test revealed a significant correlation between EWS length of time sepsis patients spend in the ICU (p=0.001). However, a lack of notable correlation was found between the SOFA score and length of time sepsis patients spend in the ICU (p=0.719).Conclusion:  No correlation exists between the SOFA score and the duration of stay among sepsis patients, whereas a correlation exists between EWS and duration of stay among sepsis patients.