standardised heart failure scoring system

Last reviewed 01/2018

Decompensated heart failure is indicated by a score of 2 or more points from the following clinical scoring system:

  • orthopnoea:
    • 0.5 points

  • paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea:
    • 1.0 points

  • reduced exercise tolerance:
    • 0.5 points

  • resting sinus tachycardia (>100/min):
    • 0.5 points

  • jugular venous pressure:
    • 0.5 points

  • hepatojugular reflex positive:
    • 1.0 points

  • third heart sound present:
    • 1.0 points

  • basal crackles:
    • 1.0 points

  • hepatomegaly:
    • 0.5 points

  • peripheral oedema:
    • 0.5 points

Reference:

  • 1) Troughton, RW, Frampton, CM. et al. (2000). Treatment of heart failure guided by plasma aminoterminal brain natriuretic peptide (N-BNP) concentrations. Lancet, 355, 1126-30.