Pre-admission CHA2DS2-VASc score and outcome of patients with acute cerebrovascular events.

BACKGROUND: The CHA2DS2-VASc score has been recommended for the assessment of thromboembolic risk in patients with atrial fibrillation. Data regarding the association between the pre-admission CHA2DS2-VASc score and the outcome of patients with stroke and TIA are scarce. We aimed to assess the predictive value of pre-admission CHA2DS2-VASc score for early risk stratification of patients with acute cerebrovascular event.

METHODS: The study group consisted of 8309 patients (53% males, mean age of 70±13.3years) with acute stroke and TIA included in the prospective National Acute Stroke Israeli (NASIS) registry. The two-primary end-points were in-hospital mortality and severe disability at discharge. We divided the study population into 4 groups according to their pre-admission CHA2DS2-VASc score (0-1, 2-3, 4-5, >5).

RESULTS: Following a multivariate analysis odds ratios (OR) for all-cause mortality increased for CHA2DS2-VASc score >1 (OR=2.1 95% CI=1.2-3.6, OR=1.8 95% CI=1.1-3.2, OR=1.8 95% CI 1.1-3.3, for patients with CHA2DS2-VASc score of 2-3, 4-5 and >5, respectively, p<0.001). OR for severe disability (mRS 4-5) at discharge increased significantly in direct association with the CHA2DS2-VASc score (OR=1.55 95% CI=1.14-2.12, OR=2.42 95% CI=1.8-3.3, OR=3 95% CI 2.19-4.27, for patients with CHA2DS2-VASc score of 2-3, 4-5 and >5, respectively as compared with 0-1, p<0.001). Each 1-point increase in the CHA2DS2-VASc score was associated with a 21% increase in the risk for severe disability.

CONCLUSIONS: High-risk pre-admission CHA2DS2-VASc score among patients with acute cerebrovascular events is associated with higher in-hospital mortality and severe disability at discharge.