INFORMATION AND REFERENCES

The Harvey-Bradshaw index (Harvey-Bradshaw Index - HBI) was conceived in 1980 as a simplified version of the CDAI to foster a systematic collection of clinical data related to Crohn's disease (1).
The index considers five parameters, exclusively clinical. For each parameter a specific score is assigned, as shown in the following table.

Parameter Input and score
1. Patient well-being
(previous day)		 0 = very well
1 = slightly below par
2 = poor
3 = very poor
4 = terrible
2. Abdominal pain
(previous day)		 0 = none
1 = mild
2 = moderate
3 = severe
3. Number of liquid or soft stools
(previous day)		 blank field
possibility to insert an integer, from 1 to 25
4. Abdominal mass 0 = none
1 = dubious
2 = definite
3 = definite and tender
5. Complications No (0 points)
Yes (drop-down menu with multiple selection; each selected complication is counted with 1 point)
  • arthralgia
  • uveitis
  • erythema nodosum
  • aphthous ulcer
  • pyoderma gangrenosum
  • anal fissures
  • appearance of a new fistula
  • abscess

Calculation formula: sum of the scores of all 5 parameters.
A score below 5 is generally considered as clinical remission. A reduction of 3 points is considered as relevant to define clinical response.



Decoding table (2,3)

Score Decoding
< 5 remission
5 - 7 mild activity
8 - 16 moderate activity
> 16 severe activity
References
  • Harvey RF, Bradshaw JM. A simple index of Crohn's-disease activity. Lancet 1980; 315 (8167): 514.
  • British Columbia Ministry of Health Services. Worksheet based on the Harvey-Bradshaw Index. British Columbia Ministry of Health Services, website https://www.health.gov.bc.ca/exforms/pharmacare/5374fil.pdf
  • Sandborn WJ, Feagan BG, Hanauer SB, et al. A review of activity indices and efficacy endpoints for clinical trials of medical therapy in adults with Crohn's disease. Gastroenterology 2002; 122: 512-530.