CHADS2 Score: Stroke Risk Assessment In Atrial Fibrillation

CHADS2 Score: Stroke Risk Assessment in Atrial Fibrillation

Condition / Points

C: Congestive heart failure (Points: 1 )

H: Hypertension: blood pressure consistently above 140/90 mmHg (or treated hypertension on medication) (Points: 1 )

A: Age

75 years (Points: 1 )

D: Diabetes Mellitus (Points: 1 )

S₂: Prior Stroke or TIA (Points: 2 )

Background

CHADS₂ score: clinical prediction rule for assessing the risk of stroke in patients with non-rheumatic atrial fibrillation. The result can be used to determine whether or not treatment is required with anticoagulation therapy or antiplatelet therapy. A high CHADS₂ score corresponds to a greater risk of stroke, while a low CHADS₂ score corresponds to a lower risk of stroke. The CHADS₂ score was validated by a study of nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation patients aged 65 to 95 who were not prescribed the anticoagulant warfarin.

References:
[1 ] Gage BF, van Walraven C, Pearce L, et al. (2004). "Selecting patients with atrial fibrillation for anticoagulation: stroke risk stratification in patients taking aspirin". Circulation 110 (16): 2287–92.

[2 ] Gage BF, Waterman AD, Shannon W, Boechler M, Rich MW, Radford MJ (2001). "Validation of clinical classification schemes for predicting stroke: results from the National Registry of Atrial Fibrillation". JAMA 285 (22): 2864–70.

[3 ] Go AS, Hylek EM, Chang Y, et al. Anticoagulation Therapy for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation: How Well Do Randomized Trials Translate Into Clinical Practice? JAMA. 2003;290(20):2685-2692