Harvey-Bradshaw Index Calculator (Crohn’s Disease Activity)
Calculate the Harvey-Bradshaw Index for Crohn’s disease from well-being, abdominal pain, liquid stools, abdominal mass and complications — with remission, mild, moderate or severe activity.
How it works
HBI = general well-being (0–4) + abdominal pain (0–3) + number of liquid stools per day + abdominal mass (0–3) + 1 point per complication (arthralgia, uveitis, erythema nodosum, aphthous ulcers, pyoderma gangrenosum, anal fissure, new fistula, abscess). Remission < 5 · mild 5–7 · moderate 8–16 · severe > 16.
The Harvey-Bradshaw Index (Harvey and Bradshaw, Lancet 1980) is a simplified version of the Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) that needs only one day’s symptoms and an examination, with no diary or blood test. It correlates closely with the CDAI; an HBI under 5 roughly corresponds to CDAI remission (under 150), and a fall of 3 points or more is commonly used to define a clinical response.
Worked example
Yesterday a patient felt slightly below par (1), had moderate abdominal pain (2) and 4 liquid stools (4), no abdominal mass (0) and joint pains (1): HBI = 1 + 2 + 4 + 0 + 1 = 8 — moderate disease (8–16).
Sources: Harvey RF, Bradshaw JM. A simple index of Crohn’s-disease activity. Lancet 1980 · Best WR. Predicting the Crohn’s disease activity index from the Harvey-Bradshaw Index. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2006
Frequently asked questions
What Harvey-Bradshaw score means remission?
A score under 5 is the usual definition of clinical remission in Crohn’s disease. 5–7 is mild, 8–16 moderate and above 16 severe disease.
How is HBI related to CDAI?
The HBI was designed as a quick substitute for the CDAI and correlates strongly with it. Roughly, HBI < 5 ≈ CDAI < 150 (remission) and HBI 8–9 ≈ CDAI 220 (moderate).
Which day do I score?
The previous day: well-being, pain and the number of liquid or very soft stools all refer to yesterday; the abdominal mass is from examination today.
What counts as a clinical response?
A fall of 3 or more points from baseline is commonly used as a clinical response in studies and clinics.
Related calculators
Clinical decision tool for education and for use by trained clinicians alongside clinical judgement — not a diagnosis and not a substitute for medical assessment. Scores validated in specific populations may not apply to every patient.