AskCalc
Home › Hematology & Oncology › Padua

Padua Prediction Score for VTE in Medical Inpatients

The Padua Prediction Score stratifies VTE risk in hospitalized medical patients (0–20). A score ≥4 is high risk (11% VTE without prophylaxis vs 0.3% if <4), and pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis is recommended if bleeding risk allows.

  • Age (years)
  • Active cancer (local or distant metastases and/or chemo/radiotherapy in previous 6 months) (yes/no, +3)
  • Previous VTE (excluding superficial vein thrombosis) (yes/no, +3)
  • Reduced mobility (bed rest with bathroom privileges ≥ 3 days) (yes/no, +3)
  • Known thrombophilic condition (yes/no, +3)
  • Recent (≤ 1 month) trauma and/or surgery (yes/no, +2)
  • Heart and/or respiratory failure (yes/no, +1)
  • Acute myocardial infarction or ischemic stroke (yes/no, +1)
  • Acute infection and/or rheumatologic disorder (yes/no, +1)
  • Obesity (BMI ≥ 30) (yes/no, +1)
  • Ongoing hormonal treatment (yes/no, +1)
—

Interpretation

ResultMeaning
< 4Low risk (0.3% VTE at 90 days)
≥ 4High risk (11% VTE without prophylaxis; 2.2% with)

Formula

Active cancer 3 · previous VTE 3 · reduced mobility 3 · known thrombophilia 3 · trauma/surgery ≤1 month 2 · age ≥70 1 · heart/respiratory failure 1 · acute MI or ischemic stroke 1 · acute infection/rheumatologic disorder 1 · BMI ≥30 1 · ongoing hormonal treatment 1

Clinical pearls

  • Pair with a bleeding-risk assessment (e.g. IMPROVE bleeding score) before starting anticoagulant prophylaxis.
  • Reduced mobility means bed rest with bathroom privileges for at least 3 days, due to illness or orders.

Examples

padua score 72 yo with pneumonia and heart failure, bedboundmedical vte risk active cancer reduced mobility 60Mpadua 55F obese on hrt with uti

FAQ

What Padua score needs DVT prophylaxis?

A score of 4 or more is high risk; ACCP and ASH guidance support pharmacologic prophylaxis (LMWH, UFH or fondaparinux) in these patients if bleeding risk is acceptable.

Is the Padua score for surgical patients?

No. It was derived in medical inpatients; use the Caprini score for surgical patients.

Evidence

  1. Barbar S et al. A risk assessment model for the identification of hospitalized medical patients at risk for VTE: the Padua Prediction Score. J Thromb Haemost 2010;8:2450–7.

Hematology & Oncology · Reviewed 2026-10-14 · Methodology