Comparison of clinical prediction scores for the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis in unselected population of outpatients and inpatients

Objectives The aim of this research was to compare the accuracy of the modified Wells, the Wells, the Kahn, the St. André, and the Constans score for the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis of the lower limb in unselected population of outpatients and inpatients. Method The pretest of probability score was employed in consecutive 500 outpatients and inpatients with suspicion of deep vein thrombosis. All patients were examined with compression ultrasonography. Results Deep vein thrombosis was confirmed in 26.4%. In the unselected population of outpatients and inpatients, the accuracy of the modified Wells score and the Constans score was higher than other scores. Both scores were more accurate for the outpatients. There was no accurate score for the inpatient subgroup. Conclusions The modified Wells and the Constans score appear to be useful in the unselected population of outpatients and inpatients and particularly in the outpatient subgroup.