Description

Hoag et al developed an Epistaxis Severity Score (ESS) for patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). The authors are from Drexel University and the Johns Hopkins University.


 

Parameters:

(1) typical frequency of nosebleeds

(2) typical duration of a nosebleed

(3) typical intensity of a nosebleed

(4) medical attention for a nosebleed

(5) current anemia

(6) blood transfusion for a nosebleed

Parameter

Finding

Points

frequency of nosebleeds

less than monthly

0

 

once per month

1

 

once per week

2

 

several per week but not daily

3

 

once per day (daily)

4

 

several times a day

5

duration of a nosebleed

< 1 minute

0

 

1 to 5 minutes

1

 

6 to 15 minutes

2

 

16 to 30 minutes

3

 

> 30 minutes

4

intensity of nosebleeds

not gushing or pouring

0

 

gushing or pouring

1

sought medical attention

never

0

 

ever

1

current anemia

no

0

 

yes

1

blood transfusion for nosebleed

no

0

 

yes

1

 

total score =

= (0.14 * (points for frequency)) + (0.25 * (points for duration)) + (0.25 * (points for intensity)) + (0.30 * (points for medical attention)) + (0.20 * (points for anemia)) + (0.31 * (points for blood transfusion))

 

normalized ESS =

= (total score) / 2.76 * 10 =

= (total score) * 3.6231

 

where:

• The paper gives 2.71 as the denominator but if you add up the values it should be 2.76.

 

Interpretation:

• minimum total score: 0

• maximum total score: 2.76 (origin for the denominator for normalized ESS)

• minimum normalized ESS: 0

• maximum normalized ESS: 10

• The higher the normalized ESS the worse the epistaxis.

 


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