Clinical value of sequential organ failure assessment score in evaluating organ function in acute pancreatitis

Abstract

Objective To compare the clinical value of sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score and revised Marshall score in evaluating organ function in acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods From January 2013 to December 2017, at the Department of Gastroenterology of The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, the clinical data of 3 957 hospitalized AP patients were collected through the AP electronic database. AP was diagnosed and the severity of the disease was classified according to the revised Atlanta classification criteria. Organ function was evaluated by modified Marshall score and SOFA score. The correlation between SOFA score and mortality, pancreatic necrosis were analyzed. Chi-square test and Spearman correlation analysis were performed for statistical analysis. Results The incidences of circulatory failure and renal failure determined by the SOFA score were higher than those of the modified Marshall score (4.80%, 190/3 957 vs. 3.03%, 120/3 957; 10.11%, 400/3 957 vs. 6.44%, 255/3 957), and the differences were statistically significant (χ2=1 599.54 and 2 237.19, both P<0.01). Two score systems were consistent in determining the incidence of respiratory failure, which were 32.22% (1 275/3 957). The incidences of persistent circulatory failure (≥48 h) and persistent renal failure (≥48 h) determined by the SOFA score were higher than those of the modified Marshall score (1.64%, 65/3 957 vs. 0.76%, 30/3 957; 4.78%, 189/3 957 vs. 3.69%, 146/3 957), and the differences were statistically significant (χ2=1 458.37 and 2 398.01, both P<0.01). The incidence of persistent respiratory failure (≥48 h) was same determined by two score systems, which were 10.24% (405/3 957). The proportion of patients with severe AP determined by SOFA score was higher than that of the modified Marshall score (25.30%, 1 001/3 957 vs. 18.83%, 745/3 957), and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=718.216, P<0.01). The results of Spearman correlation analysis showed that SOFA total score was positively correlated with the overall mortality and the incidence of pancreatic necrosis (correlation coefficients r were 0.540 and 0.211, respectively), and the differences were statistically significant (both P<0.01). Conclusion SOFA score can comprehensively evaluate organ function in AP and is an important approach in determining prognosis. Key words: Sequential organ failure assessment score; Acute pancreatitis; Revised Marshall score; Organ function