Hallstrom et al developed 2 comorbidity indices in a study evaluating patients with out-of-hospital episodes of ventricular fibrillation. The authors are from the University of Washington in Seattle.
Chronic conditions:
(1) use of heart medications
(2) previous heart attack
(3) high blood pressure
(4) chest pain or angina
(5) heart failure
(6) chronic pulmonary disease
(7) diabetes
(8) cancer
(9) gastrointestinal disorder
(10) other chronic conditions
Symptoms:
(1) chest pain
(2) faintness or dizziness
(3) indigestion
(4) shortness of breath (dyspnea)
(5) nausea
(6) fatigue
(7) weakness
chronic factor = CF =
= ((number of chronic conditions present) + (0.5 * (number of chronic conditions unknown)) / (total number of chronic conditions) =
= ((number of chronic conditions present) + (0.5 * (number of chronic conditions unknown)) / 10
symptom factor = SF =
= ((number of symptomss present) + (0.5 * (number of symptoms unknown)) / (total number of symptoms) =
= ((number of symptoms present) + (0.5 * (number of symptoms unknown)) / 7
Interpretation:
• minimum factor: 0
• maximum factor: 1
• The higher the factor the greater the level of comorbidity.
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