DASI Calculator — Duke Activity Status Index
Estimate functional capacity (METs and VO₂ peak) using the Duke Activity Status Index. Answer 12 yes/no questions about activities you can perform without significant symptoms — the tool calculates your DASI score and predicted aerobic capacity.
Take care of yourself (eating, dressing, bathing)
Walk indoors around the house
Walk a block or two on level ground
Climb a flight of stairs or walk up a hill
Run a short distance
Do light housework (dusting, washing dishes)
Do moderate housework (vacuuming, carrying groceries)
Do heavy housework (scrubbing floors, moving furniture)
Do yardwork (raking leaves, weeding, pushing a mower)
Have sexual relations
Moderate recreation (golf, bowling, dancing, doubles tennis)
Strenuous sports (swimming, singles tennis, basketball, skiing)
Duke Activity Status Index (0 = no activity, 58.2 = maximum)
- 1
Mobility & exertion score
self-care(2.75) + walking(1.75) + block walk(2.75) + stairs(5.50) + run(8.00) = 12.75Sum of MET-equivalent weights for mobility activities answered Yes. - 2
Household tasks score
light HW(2.70) + moderate HW(3.50) + heavy HW(8.00) + yardwork(4.50) = 6.2 - 3
Recreation & sports score
sexual(5.25) + moderate rec(6.00) + strenuous(7.50) = 6 - 4
DASI score
12.75 + 6.2 + 6 = 24.95
How does this calculator work?
DASI sums MET-equivalent weights for 12 yes/no activity questions (maximum 58.2). Estimated VO₂ peak = 0.43 × DASI + 9.6 mL/kg/min; estimated METs = VO₂ peak / 3.5. Scores map to: poor (<4 METs), fair (4–7), good (7–10), excellent (>10). The 4-MET threshold is used in perioperative cardiac risk assessment.
Formula
How this is calculated
The Duke Activity Status Index (DASI), developed by Hlatky et al. in 1989, estimates functional capacity from 12 yes/no questions covering self-care, mobility, household tasks, and recreational activities. Each activity has an MET-equivalent weight derived from its known oxygen cost: for example, self-care rates 2.75 METs and strenuous sports rate 7.5 METs. Answering "yes" adds the activity's weight to the running total; the maximum possible score is 58.2.
The DASI score is converted to estimated peak oxygen uptake using the regression equation VO₂ peak = 0.43 × DASI + 9.6 (mL/kg/min), derived from treadmill testing data. Dividing by 3.5 mL/kg/min per MET gives an estimated peak metabolic equivalent. Functional capacity is broadly classified as poor (< 4 METs), fair (4–7 METs), good (7–10 METs), or excellent (> 10 METs). A threshold of 4 METs is widely used in perioperative risk assessment — patients unable to perform 4-MET activities face higher surgical risk.
DASI is a self-report tool validated primarily in cardiac patients and is meant to supplement, not replace, objective exercise testing. Answers should reflect activities performed without chest pain, severe dyspnoea, or other limiting symptoms. The estimated VO₂ and METs have a confidence interval of roughly ±20% compared to measured values.
Frequently asked questions
The DASI score predicts peak functional capacity, expressed as estimated VO₂ peak (mL/kg/min) and METs. Higher scores indicate greater aerobic reserve. It is commonly used to estimate perioperative cardiac risk and to guide rehabilitation in cardiac patients.
Many clinical guidelines (including ACC/AHA perioperative guidelines) use 4 METs as a minimum acceptable functional capacity before non-cardiac surgery. Activities equivalent to 4 METs include climbing a flight of stairs or walking up a hill. Inability to perform 4-MET activities is associated with higher perioperative risk.
In the original validation, DASI explained about 58% of the variance in measured VO₂ peak — reasonably good for a self-report questionnaire but with a confidence interval of roughly ±20% around the point estimate. It is suitable for clinical screening; formal cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is more accurate when precise values are needed.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). DASI Calculator — Duke Activity Status Index [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/dasi-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "DASI Calculator — Duke Activity Status Index." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/dasi-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "DASI Calculator — Duke Activity Status Index," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/dasi-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_dasi_calculator, title = {DASI Calculator — Duke Activity Status Index}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/dasi-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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