Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI)

Learn about the Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and understand how it can be used to measure disease activity in individuals with Crohn's Disease. Download a free PDF to get started.

By Ericka Pingol on Aug 2, 2025.

Fact Checked by Ericka Pingol.

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What is a Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI)?

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disorder that causes chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It can affect any part of the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus, but usually affects the lower sections, including the ileum and colon.

People with Crohn's disease can develop anemia, malnutrition, and weakened immune systems, leading to more severe problems. Treatment options include medication, special diets, and lifestyle changes. Surgery may be necessary if the inflammation is severe or if medications are ineffective in managing the symptoms.

Doctors use the (CDAI) to measure the effectiveness of treatments and monitor disease activity. The CDAI is a numerical index that measures disease activity using various factors.

It assesses the number of stools per day, abdominal pain, general health, hematocrit level (a measure of anemia), weight change, and complications. Each factor has a numerical value; the total score can range from 0 (no disease activity) to 600 (severe disease activity).

The CDAI is a valuable tool for measuring the activity level of Crohn's disease, but it has some limitations. It is not an exact measure of disease activity, as other factors, such as diet and lifestyle, can also affect the score. Additionally, the CDAI does not consider any psychological or emotional symptoms of Crohn's disease.

Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) Template

Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) PDF Template

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How does this CDAI work?

Our free Crohn's Disease Activity Index template is an easy-to-use assessment tool to help you keep track of your patient's Crohn's disease symptoms. Here's how to get started:

Step One: Download the CDAI template

Get a copy of the template using the link on this page. You can access it within the Carepatron app or our handy resources library.

Step Two: Fill out the form

Fill out the CDAI with your patient's information. Rate each factor according to its criteria. Ask your patient if they have any symptoms that can be added to the form.

Step Three: Calculate the score

Add up all of the individual scores for the factors. This is your patient's CDAI score.

Step Four: Monitor disease activity

Repeat this assessment process every month or as needed to monitor your patient's disease activity.

Step Five: Keep the form safe

Because this CDAI assessment contains highly confidential patient information, make sure to store it in a secure location.

When to use this CDAI Template?

The Crohn's Disease Activity Index is an easy-to-use tool for evaluating disease activity in individuals with Crohn's disease. You can use it to measure the effectiveness of treatments and monitor your patient's progress. It can also help you to:

Identify patients at risk of complications or hospitalization

By administering the CDAI, you can quickly identify patients at risk of having more severe complications or needing hospitalization. It allows you to provide the appropriate care and interventions, improving patient outcomes.

Measure response to treatment

By monitoring your patient's CDAI score over time, you can measure their response to treatment and adjust it to manage the disease more effectively.

Make treatment decisions

The CDAI can help you to make treatment decisions based on the severity of your patient's symptoms. It can also inform you when a medication or other intervention may be necessary.

Improve communication with other healthcare providers

A standardized assessment tool like the CDAI ensures that all healthcare providers are on the same page regarding the patient's disease activity. This helps improve communication between providers and reduce the risk of errors.

Who is this CDAI PDF for?

This Crohn's Disease Activity Index PDF is designed to evaluate disease activity in patients with Crohn's Disease. It is intended for use by:

Doctors
Nurses
Gastroenterologists
Hospitalists
Primary care physicians
Allied health professionals

However, the CDAI is NOT designed to be the sole diagnostic tool for patients suspected of having Crohn's disease. Diagnosis should always be based on medical history, physical examination, and imaging studies.

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Benefits of free CDAI Questionnaire

Using the CDAI template to assess your patient's Crohn's disease activity can provide a variety of benefits, including:

Improved diagnostic accuracy

By using a standardized assessment tool like the CDAI, you can improve the accuracy of your diagnosis and provide more effective treatments.

Quick and easy to use

Our free CDAI assessment tool is designed to be filled out digitally, allowing you to quickly and efficiently evaluate your patient's disease activity.

Objective assessment of symptoms

Using the CDAI helps you objectively assess your patient's symptoms. This can help reduce subjectivity when making a diagnosis and ensure more accurate results.

Enhanced communication between you and your patient

The CDAI allows you to better explain disease activity and treatments to your patient. This fosters improved communication and enables your patient to voice their concerns.

Commonly asked questions

The CDAI is scored on a scale of 0-600 points. The higher the score, the more severe the patient's symptoms are.

A score of 0-149 points indicates remission, 150-220 indicates mild to moderate activity, 221-450 indicates moderate or severe activity, and over 450 indicates severe activity.

The CDAI measures the severity and extent of symptoms in patients with Crohn's disease. It assesses factors such as abdominal pain, stool frequency, and general well-being to determine the disease activity.