What is delta-SOFA and why does it matter?

Delta-SOFA is the change in SOFA score from a baseline value (typically ICU admission or time of infection suspicion) to the current reading. A delta of ≥ 2 points is the organ dysfunction threshold in the Sepsis-3 consensus definition of sepsis. Serial increases predict poor outcomes even when the absolute score is moderate.

What is considered the baseline for SOFA comparison?

The Sepsis-3 guidelines recommend using a SOFA score of 0 as the baseline for patients with no known prior organ dysfunction. For patients with chronic organ disease (e.g., chronic kidney disease or cirrhosis), the baseline should reflect their pre-morbid values rather than assuming 0. Use the best available pre-illness labs.

How is the renal score determined when both creatinine and urine output are available?

The higher-scoring (worse) of the two measures is used. For example, if creatinine scores 2 but urine output scores 3, the renal subscore is 3. This tool automatically takes the maximum of the two.

What SOFA score indicates high mortality?

Scores of 0–6 are associated with less than 10% ICU mortality; 7–9 with roughly 15–20%; 10–12 with 40–50%; 13–14 with 50–60%; 15 with over 80%; and scores above 15 can exceed 90% mortality. These estimates derive from the original Vincent et al. validation cohort.

Is this tool a substitute for clinical judgment?

No. This calculator is for educational use only. All SOFA scores must be interpreted in the context of the full clinical picture by qualified clinicians. Never use this tool as the sole basis for treatment, triage, or prognosis decisions.

SOFA Organ Failure Assessment

Name: SOFA Organ Failure Assessment
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

Enter baseline and current lab values for all 6 organ systems to calculate SOFA scores, compute delta-SOFA, and see which organs are deteriorating.

Educational use only. Not a substitute for clinical judgment. Interpret all scores alongside the full clinical picture.

Organ System Inputs

Baseline Current

1 Respiratory — PaO₂/FiO₂ (mmHg)

Baseline

Current

2 Coagulation — Platelets (×10³/μL)

Baseline

Current

Normal: 150–400 × 10³/μL

3 Liver — Total Bilirubin (mg/dL)

Baseline

Current

Normal: 0.1–1.2 mg/dL

4 Cardiovascular — MAP / Vasopressors

Baseline

Current

5 Neurological — Glasgow Coma Scale

Baseline

Current

6 Renal — Creatinine (mg/dL) and/or Urine Output (mL/day)

Baseline

Creatinine

Urine output

Current

Creatinine

Urine output

Higher of creatinine or urine output score is used. Normal creatinine: 0.6–1.2 mg/dL.

Enter baseline and current values,
then click Assess Organ Failure.

Summary

Enter baseline and current lab values for all 6 organ systems to calculate SOFA scores, compute delta-SOFA, and see which organs are deteriorating.

How it works

Enter baseline values for all 6 organ systems at ICU admission (or at the time of infection suspicion).
Enter current values reflecting the patient's most recent lab results.
The tool scores each organ system from 0 to 4 for both time points.
Delta-SOFA is calculated as current total minus baseline total.
Each organ's trajectory (stable, improving, or worsening) is displayed visually.
An estimated ICU mortality range is shown based on the current total SOFA score.

Use cases

Apply the Sepsis-3 definition: delta-SOFA ≥ 2 in the setting of suspected infection confirms organ dysfunction due to sepsis.
Track ICU trajectory by comparing daily SOFA scores against admission baseline.
Identify which specific organ systems are driving deterioration.
Estimate mortality risk and support goals-of-care conversations.
Communicate serial organ dysfunction status between clinical teams.
Document organ function trajectory for quality-improvement audits.
Triage multiple ICU patients by current SOFA and delta-SOFA simultaneously.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-07-01 · Reviewed by Nham Vu

SOFA Organ Failure Assessment

Organ System Inputs

Delta-SOFA (Change from Baseline)

Estimated ICU Mortality (Current Score)

Per-Organ Trajectory

Clinical Notes

Summary

How it works

Use cases

Frequently Asked Questions

What is delta-SOFA and why does it matter?

What is considered the baseline for SOFA comparison?

How is the renal score determined when both creatinine and urine output are available?

What SOFA score indicates high mortality?

Is this tool a substitute for clinical judgment?