What is the Charlson Comorbidity Index?

The CCI is a weighted index developed by Mary Charlson in 1987 to predict 10-year mortality risk in patients with multiple comorbidities. It assigns points (1, 2, 3, or 6) to 19 conditions based on their relative impact on survival.

How is age factored into the score?

One point is added for each decade of age above 50: +1 for ages 50–59, +2 for 60–69, +3 for 70–79, and +4 for age 80 and above. These are the age bands of the 1994 age-combined index as MDCalc applies them.

How is the 10-year survival estimate calculated?

It uses the exponential survival equation fitted to Charlson's 1987 cohort, the same one MDCalc uses: 10-year survival = 0.983^(e^(0.9 × CCI)). A score of 0 gives about 98%, 2 gives 90%, 4 gives 53%, 5 gives 21% and 6 gives about 2%. It is a population estimate, not a prediction for one patient.

What is a high CCI score?

Scores are usually grouped as 0 (no comorbidity), 1–2 (mild), 3–4 (moderate) and 5 or more (severe). Because age points are included here, most people over 70 start at 3 or more even with no listed condition.

Does this tool store any patient data?

No. All calculation happens locally in your browser. No data is sent to any server.

Charlson Comorbidity Index Calculator

Score	Risk	10-yr Survival
0	None	98%
1	Mild	96%
2	Mild	90%
3	Moderate	77%
4	Moderate	53%
5	Severe	21%
6	Severe	2%
≥ 7	Severe	< 1%

Summary

The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) calculator scores 19 weighted conditions plus age to estimate 10-year survival probability. Developed by Charlson et al. in 1987, it remains widely used in clinical research and risk stratification.

How it works

Each of 19 conditions is assigned a weight (1, 2, 3, or 6 points) based on its relative impact on mortality.
Age above 50 contributes bonus points: one per decade up to +4 for age 80+.
The raw condition score and age points are summed to produce the total CCI score.
Estimated 10-year survival = 0.983^(e^(0.9 × CCI)), the equation fitted to Charlson's original cohort.

Use cases

Estimate long-term prognosis for patients with multiple chronic conditions.
Compare baseline comorbidity burden across patient cohorts in research.
Support clinical risk stratification before elective procedures.
Quickly verify a manually calculated CCI score for documentation.

Charlson Comorbidity Index

Patient Age

Score 1 Each

Score 2 Each

Score 3 & Score 6

Score Reference

Summary

How it works

Use cases

Frequently Asked Questions

Charlson Comorbidity Index

Use the Charlson Comorbidity Index

Patient Age

Score 1 Each

Score 2 Each

Score 3 & Score 6

Score Reference

Summary

How it works

Use cases

Frequently Asked Questions