ToolsCalculators
Ottawa COPD Risk Scale
Ottawa COPD Risk Scale
History of coronary artery bypass graft
History of intervention for peripheral vascular disease
Previous intubation for respiratory distress
Heart rate ≥110/min on ED arrival
Acute ischaemic changes on ECG
Pulmonary congestion on chest X-ray
Haemoglobin <100 g/L
Urea >12 mmol/L
Serum CO₂ (bicarbonate) >35 mmol/L
After ED treatment: SaO₂ <90% (room air or usual O₂) or heart rate >120/min
Result0 points
Low risk (roughly 2–5% risk of a short-term serious outcome). Risk of death, ICU admission, or other serious event within 14 days rises with the score.
When to use
- Patients with an acute COPD exacerbation being assessed in the emergency department for disposition.
Formula
Points: CABG (1), PVD intervention (1), prior intubation (2), HR ≥110 (2), acute ECG ischaemia (2), CXR congestion (1), haemoglobin <100 g/L (3), urea >12 mmol/L (1), serum CO₂ >35 mmol/L (1), post-treatment SaO₂ <90% or HR >120 (2). Range 0–16.
Pearls and pitfalls
- Serious outcomes include death, monitored-unit admission, intubation, myocardial infarction, or relapse needing admission within 14 days.
- The scale supplements clinical judgement; even a score of 0 carries a small residual risk.