EFFECT Heart Failure Mortality Score Calculator

EFFECT Heart Failure Mortality Score: Explanation and Clinical Context The EFFECT Heart Failure Mortality Score (Enhanced Feedback for Effective Cardiac Treatment) is a validated risk stratification tool developed from a large Canadian cohort to estimate 30-day mortality among patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure. The model incorporates clinical and laboratory variables easily obtained at admission, including age, systolic blood pressure, serum sodium, blood urea, respiratory rate, serum creatinine, history of cancer, and dementia. Each factor contributes weighted points to a cumulative score that predicts mortality probability.

A higher score correlates with increased 30-day mortality. For instance, scores ≤4 are associated with mortality rates below 3%, while scores ≥10 predict mortality exceeding 25%. This tool aids clinicians in early triage, decision-making for intensive monitoring, and prognostic communication.

It complements—but does not replace—clinical judgment and should be interpreted alongside patient-specific context and comorbidities.