GWTG-Heart Failure Risk Score

Why Use

Improves quality of care provided to patients hospitalized with HF by optimizing treatment options based on risk score.

When to Use

Admitted patients with LV dysfunction (systolic or diastolic).

Formula

Pearls / Pitfalls

The GWTG-HF Risk Score estimates all-cause in-hospital mortality in admitted patients with heart failure. The risk score can be used to guide medical therapy in high-risk patients. Makes use of routinely collected clinical data to predict in-hospital mortality for patients hospitalized with HF. Scores range from 0 to 100, with scores 0-33 having <1% probability of death to scores over 79 having >50% probability of death. Can be used in patients with preserved or impaired LV systolic function.

Advice

If the score identifies the patient to be high risk, early consultation to cardiology is crucial to appropriately treat these patients and reduce risk of readmission. Appropriate planning and care coordination between multidisciplinary teams, and early and frequent follow-up in the cardiologist’s office is essential. Evidence-based guideline directed medical therapy is meant to be used for both high and low risk patients with CHF. However, in the era of resource constraints, these limited resources may not be allocated to low risk patients.

More Information

Score interpretation: Total Score Predicted Mortality 0-33 <1% 34-50 1-5% 51-57 5-10% 58-61 10-15% 62-65 15-20% 66-70 20-30% 71-74 30-40% 75-78 40-50% ≥79 >50%