Basset et al developed a score for evaluating a patient in the Emergency Department for evidence of congestive heart failure (CHF). The authors are from CHRU de la Cavale Blanche in Brest and the University of Ottawa.
Patient selection: patient in the ED
Outcome: probability of CHF
Parameters:
(1) age in years
(2) seizure dyspnea
(3) night outbreak
(4) orthopnea
(5) history of pulmonary edema
(6) chronic pulmonary disease
(7) myocardial infarction
(8) crackles
(9) leg edema
(10) ST segment abnormalities
(11) atrial fibrillation or flutter on ECG
Parameter
Finding
Points
age in years
< 65 years
0
>= 65 years
1
seizure dyspnea
absent
0
present
2
night outbreak
absent
0
present
1
orthopnea
absent
0
present
1
history of pulmonary edema
absent
0
present
2
chronic pulmonary disease
absent
0
present
-2
myocardial infarction
absent
0
present
1
crackles
absent
0
present
2
leg edema
absent
0
present
1
ST segment abnormalities
absent
0
present
1
atrial fibrillation or flutter
absent
0
present
1
where:
• "Seizure dyspnea" is unclear and probably reflects a translation from the French.
total score =
= SUM(points for all 11 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: -2
• maximum score: 13
• The higher the score the greater the risk for heart failure.
Score
Probability of CHF
<= 3
low probability
4 to 8
intermediate probility
9 to 13
high probability
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