Enter the scores for general well-being, abdominal pain, number of liquid stools per day, abdominal mass, and complications into the calculator to determine the Harvey Bradshaw Index.

Harvey Bradshaw Index Formula

The following formula is used to calculate the Harvey Bradshaw Index (HBI).

HBI = (General well-being) + (2 * Abdominal pain) + (2 * Number of liquid stools per day) + (Abdominal mass) + (Complications)

Variables:

  • General well-being is scored from 0 (very well) to 4 (terrible)
  • Abdominal pain is scored from 0 (none) to 3 (severe)
  • Number of liquid stools per day is the actual number
  • Abdominal mass is scored from 0 (none) to 3 (definite and tender)
  • Complications include arthralgia, uveitis, erythema nodosum, aphthous ulcers, pyoderma gangrenosum, anal fissure, new fistula, abscess – each scored 1 point

To calculate the Harvey Bradshaw Index, add the score for general well-being to twice the score for abdominal pain, twice the number of liquid stools per day, the score for abdominal mass, and the score for complications.

What is a Harvey Bradshaw Index?

The Harvey Bradshaw Index (HBI) is a simplified scoring system used to evaluate the severity of Crohn’s disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease. It assesses five clinical factors: patient well-being, abdominal pain, number of liquid stools per day, abdominal mass, and complications. Each factor is assigned a score, and the total score indicates the disease activity level, with higher scores indicating more severe disease.

How to Calculate Harvey Bradshaw Index?

The following steps outline how to calculate the Harvey Bradshaw Index (HBI).

  1. First, assign a score to the variable “General well-being” ranging from 0 (very well) to 4 (terrible).
  2. Next, assign a score to the variable “Abdominal pain” ranging from 0 (none) to 3 (severe).
  3. Next, determine the number of liquid stools per day.
  4. Next, assign a score to the variable “Abdominal mass” ranging from 0 (none) to 3 (definite and tender).
  5. Next, count the number of complications (arthralgia, uveitis, erythema nodosum, aphthous ulcers, pyoderma gangrenosum, anal fissure, new fistula, abscess) and assign 1 point for each complication.
  6. Finally, calculate the Harvey Bradshaw Index using the formula: HBI = (General well-being) + (2 * Abdominal pain) + (2 * Number of liquid stools per day) + (Abdominal mass) + (Complications).

Example Problem:

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.

General well-being = 2

Abdominal pain = 1

Number of liquid stools per day = 4

Abdominal mass = 2

Complications = 3