HAT – qSOFA mnemonic

We know that qSOFA might be used to discover patients in danger for sepsis-related clinical deterioration and organ dysfunction (Singer et al., 2016). It includes three clinical variables:

• Respiratory rate > 22
• Altered mental status (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] < 15)
• Systolic blood pressure ─ 100

The presence of any two of those criteria in a patient with known infection should prompt further evaluation for organ dysfunction.

To remember these variables, use the acronym HAT:

• ypottension (systolic blood pressure ≤ 100)
• altered mental status (GCS < 15)
• lack of respiratory (respiratory rate > 22)

Mnemonics are helpful – and infrequently easy – ways to enable you remember complex things! Do you could have a favourite mnemonic that you simply use repeatedly, or one that you simply learned a protracted time ago that also sticks with you today?

Singer, M., Deutschman, C.S., Seymour, C.W., Shankar-Hari, M., Annane, D., Bauer, M., Bellomo, R., Bernard, G.R., Chiche, J.D., Coopersmith, C.M., Hotchkiss, R.S. , Levy, M. M., Marshall, J. C., Martin, G. S., Opal, S. M., Rubenfeld, G. D., van der Poll, T., Vincent, J. L., & Angus, D. C. (2016). Third international consensus definitions for sepsis and septic shock (sepsis-3). (8), 801–810. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2016.0287