Stroke Risk Stratification in Incident Atrial Fibrillation: A Sex-Specific Evaluation of CHA2DS2-VA and CHA2DS2-VASc
(1) Background: In the absence of locally validated tools, the CHA2DS2-VA score has been suggested as a substitute for the CHA2DS2-VASc score. This study compared the potential discrepancies between these scores. (2) Methods: The observational, retrospective, and community-based study included a cohort of 3370 patients with a new diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF) between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2024. (3) Results: AF prevalence was 8.4%, which was significantly higher in men. The mean age was 80.1 (SD ± 6.24) years. Women (42.8%) were older (80.9 SD ± 6.1 vs. 79.5 SD ± 6.23; <i>p</i> < 0.001). Men had more instances of diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, coronary artery disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as well as a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index. Conversely, women exhibited a higher proportion ≥75 years, including cognitive impairment, dyslipidemia, and higher stroke risk, as assessed by the CHA2DS2-VASc score (<i>p</i> < 0.001) but not by the CHA2DS2-VA score (<i>p</i> = 0.071). The CHA2DS2-VA score reduced the sex-based risk stratification differences, and only 3.2% of women were reclassified as being at very low risk (CHA2DS2-VA < 2). (4) Conclusions: The CHA2DS2-VA score notably redefined sex-based thromboembolic risk stratification profiles, with no sex-based disparities in the selection of OAC treatment modality. The clinical utility of CHA2DS2-VA remains a subject of ongoing debate.
Authors
- Josep Lluís Clua‐Espuny (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6508-5741)
- Jorgina Lucas-Noll (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6380-6843)
- Pedro Moltó-Balado (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2703-0408)
- Eulàlia Múria-Subirats (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0119-9387)
- Sílvia Reverté‐Villarroya (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2052-9978)
- Josep Clua-Queralt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6529-5861)
- Anna Panisello-Tafalla (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1389-0431)
- Teresa Forcadell-Arenas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4410-9334)
- Juan Manuel Carrera-Ortiz
- Immaculada Fusté-Anguera
Institutions
- Conselleria de Sanitat Universal i Salut Pública (ES)
- Departament de Salut (ES)
- Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol (ES)
- Institut Català de la Salut (ES)
- Hospital Comarcal de Inca (ES)
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili (ES)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease
- Published
- 2025-07-05
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/jcdd12070259
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Atrial Fibrillation Management and Outcomes
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.78