Application of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score in patients with advanced cancer who present to the ED.

BACKGROUND

There is limited literature describing clinical predictors for critically ill patients with cancer who present to the emergency department (ED).

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score at the time of ED presentation for predicting short-term mortality in patients with advanced cancer.

METHODS

This was a prospective observational study of 108 consecutive patients with advanced cancer who presented to the ED. The outcome was defined as death within 14 days after admission.

RESULTS

The median survival time of the study subjects was 26.5 days (interquartile range, 9.0-78.0 days), and 31 patients (28.7%) died within 14 days after admission. In univariate analysis, SOFA score (≥4), previous chemotherapy, and altered mental status were predictive of 14-day mortality. Of those variables, only SOFA score was an independent predictor in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of the SOFA score is an acceptable method for risk stratification and prognosis of patients with advanced cancer in the ED. This score can help clinicians to predict 14-day mortality and plan appropriate treatment for critically ill patients with cancer who present to the ED.