Table 1.

DECAF score

DECAF score		Circle
D*	eMRCD 5a (too breathless to leave the house unassisted but independent in washing and/or dressing)	1
	eMRCD 5b (t oo breathless to leave the house unassisted and requires help with washing and dressing)	2
E	Eosinopaenia (eosinophils <0.05×109/L)	1
C	CXR Consolidation	1
A†	Moderate or severe Acidaemia (pH<7.3)	1
F	Atrial Fibrillation (including history of paroxysmal AF)	1
Total:

*Breathlessness assessed on a good day within the last 3 months, not breathlessness during an exacerbation/on admission.

†If a blood gas has not been performed, provided oxygen saturation breathing room air is greater than 92%, acidaemia can be assumed not to score. Please refer to the DECAF validation study for detailed instructions on scoring.⁷

AF, atrial fibrillation; CXR, chest radiograph; eMRCD, extended Medical Research Council Dyspnoea score.