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Predicts the need for intervention or mortality in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
Clinical decision-support tool for qualified healthcare professionals. Results are not a diagnosis and should not replace professional clinical judgment.
A Glasgow-Blatchford Score of 0 identifies very low-risk patients who may be suitable for outpatient management.
Specialty
GastroenterologyCategory
GastroenterologyDifficulty
Basic
Estimated Time
30 seconds
Version
1.0
Last Updated
2026-07
Formula
Keywords
| Classification | Range |
|---|---|
Very Low Risk | 0 |
Low Risk | 1–5 |
Moderate Risk | 6–12 |
High Risk | ≥13 |
Calculates the Glasgow-Blatchford score to predict the need for endoscopic intervention, transfusion, or death in patients presenting with suspected upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
The Glasgow-Blatchford score sums weighted points for blood urea nitrogen, hemoglobin (with sex-specific thresholds), systolic blood pressure, pulse rate, melena, syncope, hepatic disease, and cardiac failure. Higher totals predict a greater need for clinical intervention.
Blood urea nitrogen in mg/dL, scored across increasing ranges.
Hemoglobin in g/dL, scored using sex-specific thresholds.
Biological sex, which sets the hemoglobin scoring thresholds.
Systolic blood pressure in mmHg, scored higher at lower values.
Pulse rate in beats per minute; values of 100 or higher contribute points.
Passage of melena; Yes contributes one point.
Syncope at presentation; Yes contributes points.
Known hepatic disease; Yes contributes one point.
Known cardiac failure; Yes contributes one point.
Glasgow-Blatchford 0 indicates very low risk, and outpatient management may be appropriate; 1–5 low risk with hospital assessment; 6–12 moderate risk with endoscopic evaluation; ≥13 high risk requiring urgent resuscitation and endoscopy.
A Glasgow-Blatchford score of 0 is supported by NICE guidance as identifying patients safe for outpatient management, helping avoid unnecessary admissions in low-risk upper GI bleeding.
A 58-year-old man with melena has BUN 35 mg/dL, hemoglobin 10.5 g/dL, SBP 105 mmHg, pulse 105 bpm, no syncope, and no known hepatic or cardiac disease.
Inputs:
Expected Result: Glasgow-Blatchford score = 4 (BUN) + 3 (hemoglobin) + 1 (SBP) + 1 (pulse) + 1 (melena) = 10 — moderate risk; endoscopic evaluation is recommended.
A score of 0 identifies a very low-risk patient in whom outpatient management may be appropriate, and NICE guidance supports avoiding admission in this group. Even so, the decision should reflect overall clinical assessment, including hemodynamic status and the reliability of follow-up. Scores of 1 or higher indicate that hospital assessment is needed.
Yes, and that is its main use. All of its inputs, namely BUN, hemoglobin, sex, systolic blood pressure, pulse, melena, syncope, known hepatic disease, and known cardiac failure, are available at presentation, which is why it is suited to emergency department triage and pre-endoscopy risk stratification.
The Glasgow-Blatchford score uses only clinical and laboratory findings available before endoscopy and predicts the need for intervention, transfusion, or death. The Rockall score adds endoscopic diagnosis and stigmata of recent hemorrhage and is used after endoscopy to estimate mortality and rebleeding risk. The two are complementary rather than interchangeable.
Disclaimer: This calculator is intended for educational and clinical decision support purposes only. The Glasgow-Blatchford score supports triage decisions but does not replace clinical judgment.