6-week MACE risk in ED patients with chest pain. Free to use.
HEART Score (HEART Score for Major Adverse Cardiac Events) is a validated clinical instrument used to assess 6-week mace risk in ed patients with chest pain. The instrument contains 5 items.
Source / attribution: Six AJ et al., Neth Heart J 2008
Like all screening or assessment instruments, HEART Score is a structured aid — not a diagnostic test in isolation. Results should be interpreted alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Where a score crosses an actionable threshold, the next step is typically a more detailed clinical evaluation rather than a definitive diagnosis.
Answer all 5 items below to see your HEART Score score and interpretation.
Each item is scored on a 3-point scale (0–2). Your score updates live as you answer.
All scoring runs in your browser. No data is sent anywhere — close the tab and the answers are gone.
HEART Score uses simple summation: each item's selected response is converted to a numeric value, and the values are added to produce a total score. Reverse-scored items are inverted before summation.
Scoring notes: Educational use only. Not a substitute for clinical judgment.
The cutoffs below are drawn from the published validation literature. Always interpret in clinical context.
| Score range | Band | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 0–3 | Low risk | Low risk — home with follow-up may be safe. |
| 4–6 | Moderate risk | Medium risk — admit for observation. |
| 7–10 | High risk | High risk — urgent cardiac workup. |
This is an illustrative walkthrough, not a real patient. Follow the same four steps with your own answers — or use the live calculator at the top of this page.
Read each question and choose the response that best fits. Each response has a number next to it — that number is the item's score. The example below uses illustrative answers.
| # | Item | Example response | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | History | Moderately suspicious | 1 |
| 2 | ECG | Non-specific repolarization disturbance | 1 |
| 3 | Age | 45–64 | 1 |
| 4 | Risk factors | 1–2 risk factors | 1 |
| 5 | Initial troponin | 1–3× normal limit | 1 |
Add up all the item scores you noted in Step 1.
1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 5
Find the row in the interpretation table whose range contains your total:
Total = 5 falls between 4 and 6 → Moderate risk
Moderate risk. 12–17% MACE — admit for observation.
A score is one input alongside history and examination. HEART Score supports clinical judgment — it does not replace it.
If HEART Score doesn't fit your context, related instruments in cardiology include:
| Scale | Measures | Items | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHA2DS2-VASc | Annual stroke risk in non-valvular atrial fibrillation | 8 | — |
| HAS-BLED | 1-year risk of major bleeding on oral anticoagulation | 9 | — |
| NYHA Functional Class | Functional capacity in heart failure | 1 | — |
| APGAR Score | Rapid assessment of newborn at 1 and 5 min | 5 | — |
| ASA Physical Status | Pre-operative health status | 1 | — |
| CURB-65 | 30-day mortality in community-acquired pneumonia | 5 | — |
| Glasgow Coma Scale | Level of consciousness after head injury | 3 | — |
| Katz ADL | Functional independence in basic ADLs | 6 | — |
HEART Score (HEART Score for Major Adverse Cardiac Events) is a validated instrument that assesses 6-week mace risk in ed patients with chest pain.
HEART Score contains 5 items. Items are summed to produce a total score.
Scores of 7–10 fall in the "High risk" band. High risk — urgent cardiac workup.
Scores of 0–3 fall in the "Low risk" band. Low risk — home with follow-up may be safe.
Yes — HEART Score is in the public domain and free for clinical, educational, and research use without permission.
Six AJ et al. Neth Heart J. 2008;16(6):191-196.
No. HEART Score is a structured assessment aid. A score is one input alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Treatment decisions should never rest on a screening score alone.
HEART Score is supported by the following peer-reviewed sources: