PaduaScore

Padua Score, also known as the Padua Prediction Score, is a clinical risk assessment tool used to estimate the likelihood of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in acutely ill medical inpatients. It is designed to help clinicians identify patients who may benefit from pharmacologic prophylaxis to prevent VTE during hospitalization.

The score was developed by Barbar and colleagues to provide a simple, point-based method for risk stratification. It assigns points to a set of predefined risk factors. Common factors include active cancer, a history of prior VTE, reduced mobility, known thrombophilic conditions, recent trauma or surgery within a month, and age 70 years or older. Additional factors such as acute infection or rheumatologic disorders, obesity, and hormonal therapy may also contribute to the total. Each factor carries a specific point value, and the individual’s points are summed to yield the Padua score.

Interpretation typically classifies patients with a total score of 4 or more as high risk for VTE, while those with a lower score are considered low risk. This threshold helps guide decisions about initiating pharmacologic prophylaxis, balancing VTE prevention against bleeding risk.

Limitations of the Padua Score include its focus on medical inpatients and its variable performance across different populations and healthcare settings. It may not be as accurate in non-medical or surgical populations, obstetric patients, or individuals with atypical risk profiles. Consequently, clinicians often use the Padua Score in conjunction with clinical judgment and, in some contexts, alternative risk assessment tools such as the IMPROVE score or Caprini model.

See also: venous thromboembolism risk assessment, IMPROVE score, Caprini score. References include the original validation by Barbar and colleagues describing the Padua Prediction Score.