HEART Score

Risk assessment in acute chest pain

The HEART Score (History, ECG, Age, Risk factors, and Troponin) is a risk stratification tool used specifically in emergency departments to evaluate patients with chest pain.

Medical Specialty:
cardiology

Patient Data

FOR PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY

This calculator is a support tool intended exclusively for health professionals. It does not replace clinical judgment. The final decision regarding diagnosis and treatment is the sole responsibility of the professional.

About this Calculator 💡

The HEART Score (History, ECG, Age, Risk factors, and Troponin) is a risk stratification tool used specifically in emergency departments to evaluate patients with chest pain. Its purpose is to predict the short-term risk (usually within 6 weeks) of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), such as myocardial infarction or cardiac death. The score assigns points to five components: History (level of suspicion), Electrocardiogram (ECG), Age, Risk factors for cardiovascular disease (such as diabetes, smoking, hypertension), and Troponin (initial cardiac biomarker level). A low score helps identify low-risk patients who may be considered for early discharge, while a high score indicates the need for admission and more aggressive management.

Reference Values

  • Low probability of major adverse cardiac events in 6 weeks (0.9-1.7%). Consider early discharge or outpatient observation.
  • Moderate probability of major adverse cardiac events in 6 weeks (12-16.6%). Hospital investigation and treatment recommended.
  • High probability of major adverse cardiac events in 6 weeks (50-65%). Immediate investigation and treatment required.

Formula

Calculation Methodology HEART = History + ECG + Age + Risk Factors + Troponin

Reference

Six AJ, et al. Chest pain in the emergency room: value of the HEART score. Neth Heart J. 2008;16(6):191-6.