The CHA2DS2-VASc Score for Risk Stratification of Stroke in Heart Failure With-vs-Without Atrial Fibrillation

A recent study suggested that the CHA2DS2-VASc score can risk stratify heart failure (HF) patients without atrial fibrillation (AF) for stroke. We performed a retrospective analysis using the national Veteran Affairs database to externally validate the findings. Crude incidence rates of end points were calculated. A Cox proportional model was used to study the association between the CHA2DS2-VASc score and outcomes. In HF patients with AF (n  = 17,481) and without AF (n = 36,935), the 1 year incidence rate for ischemic stroke, thromboembolism, thromboembolism (without MI), and death were 2.7 and 2.0%; 10.3 and 7.9%; 4.1 and 3.1%; and 19.2 and 26.0%, respectively, with higher rates with increasing CHA2DS2-VASc scores both with and wi thout AF.
Source: The American Journal of Cardiology - Category: Cardiology Authors: Source Type: research