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Title: BOVA score for PE prediction

Category: Pulmonary

Keywords: pulmonary embolism, BOVA Sscore, intervention (PubMed Search)

Posted: 7/14/2024 by Robert Flint, MD (Updated: 7/14/2024)

The Bova score has been validated to predict mortality and complications in hemodynamically stable patients with intermediate to high-risk pulmonary embolisms.  There is some literature on using the Bova score to decide on thrombolytics/interventional therapy as well. 

Scoring Criteria:

  1. Score 2: Systolic Blood Pressure 90-100 mmHg
  2. Score 2: Elevated cardiac Troponin
  3. Score 2: Right Ventricular Dysfunction
    1. Right Ventricle to Left Ventricle ratio >0.9
    2. Systolic pulmonary artery pressure >30 mmHg
    3. Right ventricular free wall hypokinesis
    4. Right ventricular dilatation (e.g. D-Sign)
  4. Score 1: Heart Rate >=110 bmp

Interpretation:

  1. Stage 1: Bova Score 0-2 (low risk)
    1. Mortality at 30 days: 3.1%
    2. PE Related Complications: 4.4%
  2. Stage 2: Bova Score 2-4 (intermediate risk)
    1. Mortality at 30 days: 6.8%
    2. PE Related Complications: 18%
  3. Stage 3: Bova Score >4 (high risk)
    1. Mortality at 30 days: 10%
    2. PE Related Complications: 42%

References

  1. Family Practice Notebook. Bova Score (fpnotebook.com)
  2. USING BOVA SCORE AS A GUIDE FOR TREATMENT OF SUBMASSIVE PULMONARY EMBOLISM - CHEST (chestnet.org)