Goldman Cardiac Risk factors

Nine independent risk factors are evaluated on a point scale :

• Third heart sound (S3); 11
• Elevated jugulovenous pressure; 11
• Myocardial infarction in past 6 months; 10
• ECG: premature arterial contractions or any rhythm other than sinus; 7
• ECG shows > 5 premature ventricular contractions per minute; 7
• Age more than 70 years; 5
• Emergency procedure; 4
• Intra-thoracic, intra-abdominal or aortic surgery; 3
• Poor general status, metabolic or bedridden; 3

Patients with scores >25 had a 56% incidence of death, with a 22% incidence of severe cardiovascular complications.

Patients with scores <26 had a 4% incidence of death, with a 17% incidence of severe cardiovascular complications.

Patients with scores <6 had a 0.2% incidence of death, with a 0.7% incidence of severe cardiovascular complications.