The CHADS2-VASc scoring system is a clinical prediction rule employed to estimate the risk of stroke in individuals diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF). This scoring system assigns points based on the presence of specific risk factors, such as congestive heart failure, hypertension, age 75 years (doubled), diabetes mellitus, prior stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) (doubled), vascular disease, age 65-74, and sex category (female). The summation of these points provides a risk score that correlates with the annual risk of stroke.
Quantifying stroke risk in AF patients is crucial for guiding treatment decisions regarding anticoagulation therapy. Oral anticoagulants, while effective in reducing stroke risk, carry the potential for bleeding complications. The scoring system aids clinicians in balancing the benefits of anticoagulation against the associated risks, ultimately aiming to prevent thromboembolic events while minimizing adverse effects. Developed as an improvement upon the simpler CHADS2 score, the refined system incorporates additional risk factors to provide a more nuanced and accurate risk assessment.
