The San Diego Severity Index (SDSI) is an indicator of acuity for palliative care in patients with terminal cancer. It was developed at the San Diego Hospice, Green Cancer Center and Scripps Clinic in Southern California.
Disease and treatment points:
(1) stage of principal diagnosis
(2) comorbidity factors and complications
(3) non-OR procedures
(4) level of nursing
(5) ECOG performance score (range from 0 to 4, with 0 asymptomatic and 4 bedridden; see Chapter 1)
Acuity status points:
(1) pain
(2) nutrition-anorexia
(3) nausea and vomiting
(4) respiratory
(5) urinary tract
(6) bowel
(7) edema and ascites
(8) skin-decubitus care
(9) mental status/confusion
(10) psychosocial issues
|
Scoring Each Item |
Points |
|
none |
0 |
|
mild |
1 |
|
moderate |
2 |
|
severe |
3 |
|
extreme |
4 |
subscore for disease and treatment =
= SUM(points for all 5 questions)
subscore for acuity status =
= SUM(points for all 10 questions)
total score =
= (subscore for disease and treatment) + (subscore for acuity status)
Interpretation:
• minimum subscore and total score: 0
• maximum subscore for disease and treatment: 20
• maximum subscore for acuity status: 40
• maximum total score: 60
• The higher the score, the greater the need for medical care, with utilization of services increasing as the score increases.
• The index has been found reliable and appropriate, with valid criteria.
Purpose: To determine the San Diego Severity Index (SDSI) for a patient with terminal cancer.
Specialty: Hematology Oncology, Surgery, general
Objective: risk factors, clinical diagnosis, including family history for genetics, criteria for diagnosis, severity, prognosis, stage, complications
ICD-10: C80, C80.9,
