Interpretation
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ≤ 65 | Class I (0–1.6%) |
| 66–85 | Class II (1.7–3.5%) |
| 86–105 | Class III (3.2–7.1%) |
| 106–125 | Class IV (4.0–11.4%) |
| > 125 | Class V (10.0–24.5%) |
Formula
Age (years) · male +10 · cancer +30 · chronic heart failure +10 · chronic lung disease +10 · HR ≥ 110 +20 · SBP < 100 +30 · RR ≥ 30 +20 · temperature < 36 °C +20 · altered mental status +60 · SaO₂ < 90% +20
Clinical pearls
- Classes I–II identify candidates for outpatient management if there are no other reasons to admit (bleeding risk, hypoxemia, social).
- PESI does not include RV dysfunction or troponin; ESC risk stratification adds these for intermediate-risk patients.
Examples
pesi 72M cancer hr 115 bp 95/60 rr 24 temp 37 sat 88%pulmonary embolism severity index for a 45 year old woman, HR 90, SBP 125, RR 18, temp 36.8, sat 96, no comorbiditiespesi score 80F copd hr 105 sbp 110 rr 32 t 35.5 sats 91 confused
FAQ
Which PESI classes can be treated as outpatients?
Classes I and II (score ≤85) have low 30-day mortality and may be suitable for outpatient treatment if no other admission criteria apply.
What is the difference between PESI and sPESI?
sPESI keeps 6 binary items and classifies patients as low risk (0 points) or not; it is quicker and performs similarly.