🧫 Harvey-Bradshaw Index (Crohn's Disease Activity)
The Harvey-Bradshaw Index (HBI) is a simplified, labs-free clinical activity score for Crohn's disease.
Harvey-Bradshaw Index (Crohn's Disease Activity)
General well-being
Abdominal pain
Liquid stools per day (/day)
Abdominal mass
Number of complications (arthralgia/uveitis/erythema nodosum/aphthous ulcers/pyoderma gangrenosum/anal fissure/fistula/abscess, 1 point each) (items)
When to use
Enter general well-being, abdominal pain, liquid stools per day, abdominal mass, and the count of extraintestinal complications; the tool sums them and bands the activity.
How it works
HBI = well-being (0–4) + pain (0–3) + liquid stools/day + abdominal mass (0–3) + complications (1 point each). <5 remission, 5–7 mild, 8–16 moderate, >16 severe.
Key points
- A drop of ≥3 points is commonly used to define clinical response in trials and practice (original synthesis · not guideline verbatim).
- HBI tracks the CDAI closely but is faster because it omits laboratory and weekly-diary components.
- Because it is purely clinical, pair it with endoscopy and biomarkers (CRP, fecal calprotectin) before changing therapy.
References
- Harvey RF, Bradshaw JM. A simple index of Crohn's-disease activity. Lancet. 1980.
- Vermeire S, et al. Correlation between the Crohn's disease activity and Harvey-Bradshaw indices. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2010.
Decision support for licensed clinicians only; not a substitute for clinical judgement, diagnosis or local protocols.