Pediatric Heart Failure Index Score

Pediatric Heart Failure Index Score

Symptoms and Signs

Echocardiography indicates ventricular dysfunction, gallop rhythm

Edema, pleural effusion, ascites

Malnutrition, cachexia, growth retardation

Percussion or X-ray indicates significant cardiac enlargement

Decreased activity tolerance, feeding difficulties

Poor circulation found on physical examination

Auscultation or X-ray indicates pulmonary edema

Sinus tachycardia at rest

Hepatomegaly

Please select

Hepatomegaly

＜4cm below the costal margin

＞4cm below the costal margin

Rapid breathing, difficulty breathing

Please select

Rapid breathing, difficulty breathing

Mild to moderate

Moderate to severe

Drug Treatment

Digoxin

Diuretics

Please select

Diuretics

Small to moderate dose

Moderate to large dose

ACE-I, ARB, other vasodilators

β-blockers

Anticoagulation for non-valvular reasons

Antiarrhythmic drugs, ICD implantation

Circulatory Physiology

Single ventricle

Score:

Result Interpretation

Normal children should score below 2 points, with a minimum score of 0 indicating no heart failure, and a maximum score of 30 indicating severe heart failure. The score is proportional to the severity of heart failure.

For younger children, the commonly used WHO heart function classification may not be suitable. The New York University Pediatric Heart Failure Index can better evaluate the heart function status of children with PAH related to systemic-to-pulmonary shunts, post-cavopulmonary anastomosis, and delayed postoperative PH.

References

Research Paper

Connolly D, et al. The New York University Pediatric Heart Failure Index: a new method of quantifying chronic heart failure severity in children. J Pediatr. 2001 May;138(5):644-8.

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