Table 2 Univariate meta-regression analysis to identify potential sources of heterogeneity in predictive performance of positive quick Sequential (Sepsis-related) Organ Failure Assessment scores for in-hospital mortality outside the intensive care unit

 Prospective

4

2759

0.59 (0.32–0.86)

0.68

0.81 (0.64–0.99)

0.30

 Retrospective

16

141,778

0.49 (0.36–0.62)

0.84 (0.76–0.91)

 USA

6

107,795

0.69 (0.53–0.85)

0.13

0.70 (0.52–0.87)

<0.01

 Other countries

14

36,742

0.42 (0.30–0.54)

0.87 (0.81–0.93)

  ≥ 1500

10

5424

0.39 (0.25–0.54)

0.13

0.89 (0.83–0.95)

0.84

  < 1500

10

139,113

0.62 (0.47–0.77)

0.74 (0.62–0.86)

  ≥ 10%

10

18,715

0.54 (0.38–0.70)

0.68

0.77 (0.66–0.89)

0.01

  < 10%

10

125,822

0.47 (0.31–0.63)

0.88 (0.80–0.95)

 Only ED

11

30,725

0.47 (0.31–0.63)

0.59

0.85 (0.76–0.94)

0.27

 Other non-ICU

9

113,812

0.55 (0.38–0.72)

0.81 (0.69–0.92)

 At time of initial suspicion of infection

13

124,030

0.39 (0.28–0.51)

0.01

0.88 (0.82–0.94)

0.95

 Worst values

7

20,507

0.71 (0.57–0.85)

0.72 (0.56–0.87)

 Suspected or confirmed infection

17

142,776

0.46 (0.34–0.57)

0.18

0.87 (0.82–0.92)

<0.01

 Sepsis or septic shock

3

1761

0.74 (0.53–0.96)

0.49 (0.23–0.76)

 Suspected or confirmed infection

16

126,080

0.58 (0.47–0.69)

0.08

0.79 (0.70–0.87)

0.66

 Specific infectious entity (community-acquired pneumonia or neutropenic fever)

4

18,457

0.24 (0.08–0.40)

0.94 (0.89–1.00)