Critical care: qSOFA criteria: practice question

A Anaesthesia question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anaesthesia · Critical care: qSOFA criteria

Sample item

Which set of findings makes up the quick SOFA (qSOFA) screening score?

ATemperature above 38 degrees C, heart rate above 90 and white cell count above 12,000BPaO2/FiO2 below 200, bilirubin above 6 and GCS below 10CRespiratory rate of 22 or more, systolic pressure of 100 mmHg or less, and altered mentationDLactate above 4, creatinine above 2 and platelets below 100

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Respiratory rate of 22 or more, systolic pressure of 100 mmHg or less, and altered mentation

qSOFA is a bedside tool to identify patients with suspected infection who are at risk of poor outcome. One point each is given for respiratory rate of at least 22 per minute, systolic blood pressure of 100 mmHg or less, and altered mentation. A score of 2 or more prompts assessment for organ dysfunction.

Option by option

A. Temperature above 38 degrees C, heart rate above 90 and white cell count above 12,000
These are the older SIRS criteria.
B. PaO2/FiO2 below 200, bilirubin above 6 and GCS below 10
These are components of the full SOFA score and not qSOFA.
C. Respiratory rate of 22 or more, systolic pressure of 100 mmHg or less, and altered mentation (correct)
Correct. These three bedside criteria form the qSOFA.
D. Lactate above 4, creatinine above 2 and platelets below 100
These laboratory values are not part of qSOFA.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is C, Respiratory rate of 22 or more, systolic pressure of 100 mmHg or less, and altered mentation. qSOFA is a bedside tool to identify patients with suspected infection who are at risk of poor outcome.

Why is "Temperature above 38 degrees C, heart rate above 90 and white cell co…" not the answer?

These are the older SIRS criteria.

Why is "PaO2/FiO2 below 200, bilirubin above 6 and GCS below 10" not the answer?

These are components of the full SOFA score and not qSOFA.

Why is "Lactate above 4, creatinine above 2 and platelets below 100" not the answer?

These laboratory values are not part of qSOFA.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Critical care: qSOFA criteria in Anaesthesia. One point each is given for respiratory rate of at least 22 per minute, systolic blood pressure of 100 mmHg or less, and altered mentation. A score of 2 or more prompts assessment for organ dysfunction.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Critical care: qSOFA criteria?

Make a table of each agent, its key advantage and its main side effect. Then use the flashcards and the other Anaesthesia questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.