Management depends on the patient's total score according to the following ‘MICE’ criteria: |
Male: | 2 points |
History of myocardial infarction: | 6 points |
Basal crepitations: | 5 points |
Ankle oedema: | 3 points |
MICE score | Action |
0–3 | no investigation unless clinical picture |
| changes |
5–8 | perform a BNP test and refer for |
| echocardiography if the BNP concentration |
| exceeds the following thresholds: |
| MICE score 5 – refer if BNP > 150pg/mL |
| MICE score 6 – refer if BNP > 120pg/mL |
| MICE score 7 – refer if BNP > 90pg/mL |
| MICE score 8 – refer if BNP > 70pg/mL |
9–11 | refer straight for echocardiography |