SOFA score predicts 30-day mortality in the elderly

What is it about?

The world population is progressively expading, and this is mainly due to the aging phenomenon and the consequent growth of the elderly segment (conventionally represented by subjects aged 65 years and older). Medical wards have experienced a progressive increase of the mean age of patients during the last 10-15 years, and several tools to predict their survival (short- and long-term) have been proposed. This article describes the application of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score and its ability to predict 30-day mortality in a group of elderly patients admitted to an Italian acute geriatrics unit (Monza, Northern Italy).

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Why is it important?

Many predictive tools are time-consuming and sometimes difficult to apply. The SOFA score, originally validated in intensive care units, in this study is validated for the use in an acute geriatrics unit. The SOFA score is easy to apply in such units, and it represents a valuable and promising tool in order to assess prognosis, to address care efforts, and to optimize resource allocation.