SIRS x qSOFA: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Matheus Amorim Bastos Cardoso – Universidade Federal de Alagoas - UFAL

Matheus da Silva Raetano – Universidade Federal de Alagoas - UFAL

Marianne de Aguiar Vitório Praxedes – Universidade Federal de Alagoas - UFAL

Weverton Lopes Candido – Universidade Federal de Alagoas - UFAL

Pedro Fellipe Pereira da Silva Rocha – Universidade Federal de Alagoas - UFAL

ABSTRACT:

The concept of sepsis was updated in The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3), defining it as a life-threatening organic dysfunction caused by a dysregulated response to an infection. Without early diagnosis and treatment, septic patients have a high mortality rate, therefore, their recognition is a priority. Choosing the best score to diagnose and classify this condition increases patient survival and reduces injuries. In this reasoning, the present integrative review aimed to compare the accuracy of the qSOFA and SIRS criteria scores as screening tools for sepsis and their main implications in the adult population outside the ICU. After analyzing 1,068 articles compatible with the initial criteria, 9 full articles were evaluated, selected through refinement to summarize their main results. Among the seven articles that evaluated in-hospital mortality, all reported that the SIRS criteria has greater sensitivity, while the qSOFA has greater specificity. In relation to the two articles with an outcome in the occurrence of sepsis, the SIRS criteria presented better sensitivity and worse specificity in relation to qSOFA. In summary, it is recommended that scores be adapted to specific situations and locations, depending on the team’s objective, in order to obtain the best benefit for the patient. Early treatment in patients suspected of infection and/or sepsis is more favorable to the use of the SIRS criteria due to its greater sensitivity. Otherwise, in the scenario of seeking more assertiveness regarding cases that may evolve into negative outcomes, it is appropriate to use qSOFA.