Predicting stroke in patients without atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND

Only few studies in selected cohorts have examined whether the CHA2 DS2 -VASc score can predict the risk of atrial fibrillation and thromboembolic events in patients without atrial fibrillation.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Patients with coronary angiography performed between 2004 and 2012 were grouped according to CHA2 DS2 -VASc score. We excluded patients with atrial fibrillation, anticoagulant therapy and follow-up <30 days. The endpoints were atrial fibrillation and a composite of ischaemic stroke, transient ischaemic attack and systemic embolism. Event rates per 100 person-years were estimated for each CHA2 DS2 -VASc score (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and >4). Incidence rate ratios were calculated using low-risk patients (CHA2 DS2 -VASc score 0 in males or 1 in females) as reference.

RESULTS

In total, 78 233 patients were included with group sizes varying between 8299 (CHA2 DS2 -VASc >4) and 19 882 (CHA2 DS2 -VASc 2). An increasing CHA2 DS2 -VASc score was significantly associated with a future diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (P for trend <0.0001) and an incremental risk of ischaemic stroke, transient ischaemic attack, systemic embolism (P for trend <0.0001) and all-cause death (P for trend <0.0001). Patients with a CHA2 DS2 -VASc score of 3 had a rate of ischaemic stroke/transient ischaemic attack/systemic embolism of 1.30 per 100 person-years.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients undergoing coronary angiography, the CHA2 DS2 -VASc score predicted a future diagnosis of atrial fibrillation and the composite risk of ischaemic stroke, transient ischaemic attack or systemic embolism in patients without atrial fibrillation. A CHA2 DS2 -VASc score of 3 was associated with a risk that would justify prophylactic oral anticoagulation treatment in a patient with atrial fibrillation.