The calculator in question is the GAP Index, which stands for Gender, Age, and Physiology Index. This scoring system is specifically designed for patients diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic, progressive lung disease characterized by fibrosis of the lung tissue.
The GAP Index is used to predict mortality in IPF patients. It incorporates three key variables: gender, age, and physiological parameters (including forced vital capacity and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide). Each of these variables is assigned a score, and the total score is used to classify patients into stages I, II, or III, with higher stages indicating a higher risk of mortality.
The GAP Index is a valuable tool for clinicians as it helps in risk stratification, guiding treatment decisions, and providing prognostic information to patients and their families. It can also be used in research settings to stratify patients in clinical trials.
There are no specific exclusion criteria for the use of the GAP Index. However, it should be noted that this index is specifically designed for IPF patients and may not be applicable or accurate in predicting mortality in patients with other types of lung diseases.
Reference
Brett Ley, Christopher J Ryerson, Eric Vittinghoff et al. A multidimensional index and staging system for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Ann Intern Med. 2012 May 15;156(10):684-91.
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