Use of qSOFA Score in Predicting the Outcomes of Patients With Glyphosate Surfactant Herbicide Poisoning Immediately Upon Arrival at the Emergency Department.

Abstract

This study aimed to identify whether quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA) performed immediately upon arrival can predict the outcome of patients with glyphosate surfactant herbicide (GlySH) poisoning. Adult patients with GlySH poisoning between January 2006 and April 2017 were included in this retrospective observational study. The qSOFA score (respiratory rate ≥22 breaths per minute, systolic blood pressure <100 mm Hg, and altered mental status) was assessed immediately upon arrival at the emergency department. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, and the secondary outcomes were life-threatening complications and organ injury. Of the 150 patients who ingested GlySH, 14 (9.3%) died. The qSOFA score was significantly higher in the non-survival group (P < 0.001). qSOFA (odds ratio [OR], 2.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41-5.76) was independently associated with in-hospital mortality. The area under curve value of qSOFA was 0.841 (95% CI, 0.772-0.895). As qSOFA score increased from 0 to 3, the in-hospital mortality significantly increased (P < 0.001). The frequency of life-threatening complications, including organ injury, increased as the qSOFA score increased from 0 to 3 (P < 0.001). The qSOFA score measured upon arrival shows good prognostic performance in patients with GlySH poisoning. Moreover, the qSOFA may predict the development of life-threatening complications including organ injury. Thus, more attention should be paid to patients with GlySH poisoning with higher qSOFA scores.