A score for congestive heart failure ("CHF score") was used for analysis of the patients enrolled in the Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS).
Parameters:
(1) medical history
(2) drug therapy with digitalis
(3) drug therapy with a diuretic
(4) rales on physical examination
Parameter
Finding
Points
history of CHF
none
0
present
1
therapy with digitalis
no
0
yes
1
therapy with diuretic
no
0
yes
1
rales on physical examination
absent
0
present
1
CHF score =
= SUM(points for parameters present)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 4
• The higher the score, the more likely heart failure is present.
• The patient's in the CASS studies were preselected for heart disease. Some variables like diuretic use or presence of rales might be less predictive in the general population.
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