The Brinkman Index (BI) is a measure of cigarette use similar to the pack year.
Parameters:
(1) average number of cigarettes smoked per day
(2) number of years smoking
Brinkman index =
= (number smoked per day) * (number of years smoked)
The index can be calculated as an average or by breaking out different consumption levels.
Interpretation:
• The complications of cigarette smoking increase with the Brinkman Index.
• Several complications show significant increases about a BI of 400.
The Brinkman Index can be converted to pack years as:
pack years =
= (Brinkman index) / 20
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
Specialty: Toxicology, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care
