Validation of the Oakland Score for Predicting Safe Discharge in Lower GI Bleeding

The score had high sensitivity but low specificity for identifying low-risk patients.

Risk scores to predict outcomes in gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding can predict poor outcomes, thus helping direct hospital resources, or good outcomes, thereby identifying patients who may be safely managed as outpatients. The recently developed Oakland score uses seven variables to predict low risk for adverse outcomes in patients with lower GI bleeding (LGIB). The score runs from 0 to 35 points and is heavily weighted for hemoglobin (0–22 points) and systolic blood pressure (0–5 points). In its initial derivation and validation in the U.K., a score ≤8 predicted a 95% probability of safe discharge.

In an external validation study, researchers retrospectively calculated the Oakland score in 46,179 patients with LGIB admitted to 140 hospitals …

Reviewing Author

John R. Saltzman, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardIterative Scopes

Editorial BoardsGastrointestinal Endoscopy; UpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Gastroenterology (Trustee)

OtherVice President of Medical Affairs, 1Globe Health Institute