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Table 1 Clinical decision rules under evaluation

From: Ruling out pulmonary embolism across different subgroups of patients and healthcare settings: protocol for a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis (IPDMA)

Wells’ score [21]

Revised Geneva [22]

PERC [23]

YEARS [24]

Items

CDR points

Items

CDR points

Items

Items

Previous VTE

1.5

Previous VTE

3

Age < 50 y

Clinical signs of DVT

Heart rate > 100/min

1.5

Heart rate

75–94/min

≥ 95/min

3

5

Pulse < 100/min

Hemoptysis

Surgery or immobilization < 4 weeks

1.5

Surgery or fracture < 1 month

2

Saturation > 94%

PE most likely diagnosis

Hemoptysis

1

Hemoptysis

2

No unilateral leg swelling

Clinical probability:

0 items and D-dimer < 1000 ng/ml: PE ruled out

0 items and D-dimer ≥ 1000 ng/ml: Likely

≥ 1 items and D-dimer < 500 ng/ml: PE ruled out

≥ 1 items and D-dimer ≥ 500 ng/ml: Likely

Active cancer

1

Active cancer

2

No hemoptysis

Clinical signs of DVT

3

Unilateral lower limb pain

3

No recent trauma or surgery

Alternative diagnosis less likely than PE

3

Pain on lower limb, deep venous palpation, and unilateral edema

4

No estrogen use

Clinical probability:

Low < 2 total

Intermediate 2–6 total

High > 6 total

Unlikely ≤ 4

Likely > 4

Age > 65 years

1

No previous VTE

Clinical probability:

Low 0–3

Intermediate 4–10

High ≥ 11

Clinical probability:

PE ruled out when fulfilling these criteria

Further testing:

 • “Unlikely,” “Low,” or “Intermediate” plus abnormal D-dimer testing, and

 • “High”, or “Likely”, regardless of D-dimer testing (i.e., D-dimer testing not indicated)

In all other patients, PE is considered ruled-out.

Further testing:

 • “Low”, or “Intermediate” plus abnormal D-dimer testing.

 • “High”, regardless of D-dimer testing (i.e., D-dimer testing not indicated)

In all other patients, PE is considered ruled-out.

Further testing:

All patients fulfilling at least one PERC item.

In all other patients, PE is considered ruled-out.

Further testing:

All patients classified into “Likely”.

In all other patients, PE is considered ruled-out.