Clinical Prediction Index of Kahn et al for Deep Vein Thrombosis in Patients with Leg Symptoms

Description

Kahn et al developed a clinical prediction index for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with leg symptoms. Since clinical signs and symptoms may be inaccurate in the diagnosis of DVT, such an index may help reduce the use of unnecessary diagnostic tests in patients at low risk for thrombosis. The authors are from Jewish General and Montreal General Hospital in Montreal, Canada.

Risk Factor Identified by Multivariate Analysis	Odds Ratio	95% Confidence Interval
male sex	2.8	1.4 – 5.7
orthopedic surgery	5.4	2.2 – 13.6
warmth	2.1	1.2 – 3.9
superficial venous dilation on exam	2.9	1.4 – 5.7

clinical index =

= SUM(number of risk factors present)

Interpretation:

• minimum index: 0

• maximum index: 4

• A patient with a moderate to high risk for DVT might benefit from contrast venography or other diagnostic study.

Clinical Index	Risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis in Leg
0	low risk
1 – 2	moderate risk
3 - 4	high risk

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Description

Specialty

ICD-10