Cardiology Emergency Medicine
Ottawa Heart Failure Risk Scale
Identifies ED patients with acute heart failure at high risk for serious adverse events within 14 days.
Used in: Heart Failure
Score interpretation
Low Risk 0
No high-risk features. Low risk for serious adverse event within 14 days.
→ Consider discharge with close outpatient follow-up within 72 hours.
High Risk 1–7
≥1 criterion present. Elevated risk for death, MI, or return ED visit requiring admission within 14 days.
→ Admission recommended. Cardiology review and intensive monitoring.
Interpretation bands for the OHFRS. Apply clinical judgement and local guidance.
References
- Stiell IG et al. Prospective and explicit clinical validation of the Ottawa Heart Failure Risk Scale. Acad Emerg Med. 2017;24(3):316-327.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Calculators
- NYHA Heart Failure Classification · Heart Failure
- MAGGIC Risk Score for Heart Failure · Heart Failure
- ACC/AHA Heart Failure Staging · Heart Failure
- Framingham Heart Failure Diagnostic Criteria · Heart Failure
- H2FPEF Score for HFpEF · Heart Failure
- GWTG-HF Risk Score for In-Hospital Mortality · Heart Failure
Drugs
Pathways
- Acute Heart Failure · ESC 2021 Heart Failure Guidelines; NICE NG106
- NSTEMI / Unstable Angina · ESC 2020 NSTEMI Guidelines; NICE NG185
- New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation · ESC 2020 AF Guidelines; NICE NG196
- Hypertensive Emergency · ESC/ESH 2018 Hypertension Guidelines; NICE NG136
- Bradycardia Management · Resuscitation Council UK ABCDE; ESC 2021 Pacing Guidelines
- Ventricular Tachycardia / Fibrillation · Resuscitation Council UK ACLS; ESC 2022 Ventricular Arrhythmia Guidelines
Decision support only — verify against a current formulary, NICE, or your local guideline before clinical use.