Cluster trajectory of SOFA score in predicting mortality in sepsis

Objective: Sepsis is a life-threatening condition. Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score is commonly used to assess organ dysfunction and predict ICU mortality, but it is taken as a static measurement and fails to capture dynamic changes. This study aims to investigate the relationship between dynamic changes in SOFA scores over the first 72 hours of ICU admission and patient outcomes. Design, setting, and participants: 3,253 patients in the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV database who met the sepsis-3 criteria and were admitted from the emergency department with at least 72 hours of ICU admission and full-active resuscitation status were analysed. Group-based trajectory modelling with dynamic time warping and k-means clustering identified distinct trajectory patterns in dynamic SOFA scores. They were subsequently compared using Python. Main outcome measures: Outcomes including hospital and ICU mortality, length of stay in hospital and ICU, and readmission during hospital stay, were collected. Discharge time from ICU to wards and cut-offs at 7-day and 14-day were taken. Results: Four clusters were identified: A (consistently low SOFA scores), B (rapid increase followed by a decline in SOFA scores), C (higher baseline scores with gradual improvement), and D (persistently elevated scores). Cluster D had the longest ICU and hospital stays, highest ICU and hospital mortality. Discharge rates from ICU were similar for Clusters A and B, while Cluster C had initially comparable rates but a slower transition to ward. Conclusion: Monitoring dynamic changes in SOFA score is valuable for assessing sepsis severity and treatment responsiveness.