DAPT Score Calculator (dual antiplatelet therapy beyond 1 year, Yeh 2016)

Understanding the DAPT score calculator — concept and principle

This calculator works out the DAPT score, which helps cardiologists judge whether continuing dual antiplatelet therapy beyond one year after a coronary stent is likely to do more good than harm. It shows the score from −2 to 10, the score group and the event rates seen in the DAPT trial for that group. Cardiologists, pharmacists and students use it.

Clotting points vs bleeding points — with the default inputs: DAPT score 2.

How it is calculated

Age: 75 or older −2; 65–74 −1; under 65 0
Current smoker +1; diabetes +1; heart attack at the time of the stent +1; earlier PCI or MI +1
Paclitaxel-eluting stent +1; stent diameter under 3 mm +1
Heart failure or LVEF under 30% +2; stent in a vein graft +2
Score 2 or more: high; under 2: low

The principle

The DAPT trial randomised patients who had taken aspirin plus a P2Y12 inhibitor for 12 months after a stent, without major problems, to continue the second drug or take placebo for another 18 months. Yeh and colleagues (2016) built the score from factors that predicted ischaemic events (which longer therapy prevents) and bleeding (which it causes). Older age raises bleeding risk, so it subtracts points; factors linked to clotting add points.

Worked example

Defaults: age 65–74, current smoker, diabetes, MI at presentation, no other factors.

Score = −1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 2.
Group: High score (2 or more).
In the trial: MI or stent thrombosis 2.7% vs 5.7%; bleeding 1.8% vs 1.4% (continued vs placebo).

How to read the result

Where does your result fall?

In the trial, patients with a score of 2 or more had fewer heart attacks and stent clots with continued therapy without a significant rise in moderate or severe bleeding. With a score under 2, continued therapy raised bleeding (3.0% vs 1.4%) with little ischaemic benefit (1.7% vs 2.3%). The score supports a shared decision between cardiologist and patient.

Common mistakes

Using the score in the first year after the stent.
Applying it to patients who had a major bleed or event during the first year.
Forgetting that age subtracts points.
Stopping or starting medicines based on the score without medical advice.

Keep in mind: Not medical advice. Never stop antiplatelet medicines without talking to your cardiologist.

Frequently asked questions

What does a DAPT score of 2 or more mean?

In the trial, extended therapy reduced ischaemic events without a significant bleeding increase.

Who should not use the DAPT score?

People who had major bleeding or an ischaemic event in the first year, or those not yet at one year.

Why does age lower the score?

Older patients have a higher bleeding risk with prolonged therapy.

Sources: Yeh RW, Secemsky EA, Kereiakes DJ, et al., "Development and validation of a prediction rule for benefit and harm of dual antiplatelet therapy beyond 1 year after percutaneous coronary intervention", JAMA 2016;315(16):1735–1749

Checked 9 Nov 2026. Yeh RW, Secemsky EA, Kereiakes DJ, et al., “Development and validation of a prediction rule for benefit and harm of dual antiplatelet therapy beyond 1 year after percutaneous coronary intervention”, JAMA 2016;315(16):1735–1749 — items and points as listed in the cliot R package documentation (dapt_score); outcome rates for scores ≥2 and <2 from J-F Tanguay, “Antiplatelet therapy guidelines” lecture slides (SSVQ, citing Yeh 2016).

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