DASI Calculator - Duke Activity Status Index
Calculate functional capacity in METs from daily activities. Essential for preoperative cardiac risk assessment per ACC/AHA guidelines.
Sample Patient Scenarios
💪 Excellent Capacity
Active adult, all activities possible
55-year-old recreational athlete preparing for elective knee surgery
👍 Good Capacity
Most activities possible, limited strenuous
65-year-old with controlled hypertension, pre-operative evaluation
📊 Moderate Capacity
Limited strenuous activities, meets surgical threshold
70-year-old with stable angina, elective hip replacement
⚠️ Poor Capacity
Limited to basic activities only
75-year-old with heart failure, needs colectomy
🔴 Severely Limited
Very limited mobility, high-risk patient
80-year-old with multiple comorbidities, emergency surgery
❤️ Cardiac Rehab Patient
Post-MI recovery, building capacity
62-year-old, 8 weeks post-MI, cardiac rehab progression
❤️ DASI Activity Questions
Can you perform the following activities? Select "Yes" if you can do the activity without symptoms.
👤 Patient Information
🏥 Medical History
🔪 Surgical Planning
💊 Current Medications
DASI Results
Moderate Functional Capacity
6.3 METs
28.7
DASI Score
METs
Peak VO₂
ml/kg/min
% Predicted
Surgical Risk
≥4 METs
Detailed Analysis
| DASI Score | 28.7/58.2 |
| Estimated METs | 6.3 |
| Peak VO₂ | 21.9 ml/kg/min |
| Age-Expected METs | 6.9 |
| % of Predicted | 90% |
| Cardiac Event Risk | 5.0% |
| Stress Test Indicated | No |
| Exercise Prescription | Moderate intensity, 78-109 bpm, RPE 12-14 |
| Target Heart Rate | 78-109 bpm |
📊 Visual Analysis
Activity Profile
Category Breakdown
METs Comparison
Functional Capacity Gauge
📋 Recommendations
Moderate functional capacity - meets minimum surgical threshold
Consider further evaluation if multiple clinical risk factors present
🏃 Activity Recommendations
Current capacity: 6.3 METs
Moderate walking 20-30 minutes daily
Light aerobic activities
Can tolerate flights of stairs
Clinical Note: DASI provides an estimate of functional capacity and should be used in conjunction with clinical assessment. Per ACC/AHA guidelines, patients with ≥4 METs generally have adequate functional capacity for most surgeries, but clinical risk factors and surgery type must also be considered.
⚠️For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before acting on results.
Understanding the DASI
The Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) is a validated 12-item questionnaire that estimates functional capacity in metabolic equivalents (METs). It's widely used for preoperative risk assessment and correlates well with measured exercise capacity.
Key Features
- • 12 daily activity questions
- • Weighted scoring (total 0-58.2)
- • Estimates VO₂ peak and METs
- • No equipment required
- • Takes 2-5 minutes
Clinical Applications
- • Preoperative cardiac assessment
- • Cardiac rehabilitation
- • Heart failure monitoring
- • Exercise prescription
- • Disability evaluation
Functional Capacity Classes
ACC/AHA Guideline Thresholds
DASI Activity Weights
| Activity | Weight | METs | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-care | 2.75 | 1.75 | selfCare |
| Walk indoors | 1.75 | 2 | locomotion |
| Walk 1-2 blocks | 2.75 | 2.75 | locomotion |
| Climb stairs | 5.5 | 5 | locomotion |
| Run short | 8 | 8 | locomotion |
| Light housework | 2.7 | 2.5 | housework |
| Moderate housework | 3.5 | 3.5 | housework |
| Heavy housework | 8 | 6 | housework |
| Yard work | 4.5 | 4.5 | housework |
| Sexual activity | 5.25 | 3 | recreation |
| Moderate recreation | 6 | 5 | recreation |
| Strenuous sports | 7.5 | 7.5 | recreation |