VAS

Medical abbreviation · Patient Assessment

VAS
Stands forVisual analog scale
CategoriesMedical

VAS stands for Visual analog scale, a patient assessment abbreviation.

Pain or symptom measure in which patients mark a point on a 100 mm line anchored by "no pain" and "worst pain imaginable"; the distance in millimeters becomes the score. It is common in research and some clinics.

Example: VAS pain 62 mm at baseline, 24 mm at week 6.

Usage notes

Because it gives a continuous score, the VAS detects small changes well, but it needs a paper or screen and good eyesight and hand control. Older adults and patients with cognitive impairment find it harder than a numeric scale. The same format measures nausea, fatigue and anxiety.

More patient assessment abbreviations

  • AP – Apical pulse
  • AVPU – Alert, voice, pain, unresponsive
  • Ax – Axillary
  • BLE – Bilateral lower extremities
  • BMI – Body mass index
  • BP – Blood pressure
  • BPS – Behavioral Pain Scale
  • BS – Bowel sounds
  • BSA – Body surface area
  • BUE – Bilateral upper extremities
  • CAM-ICU – Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit
  • CIWA-Ar – Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol, revised

See all 65 patient assessment abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.