Prognostic value of CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores for post-discharge outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Albuminuria improves R2CHA2DS2-VASc score in predicting mortality in high cardiovascular risk population

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The CHA₂DS₂-VASc score estimates the risk of cardioembolism in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). It also predicts vascular events and death in different clinical settings, even in the absence of AF. The R₂CHA₂DS₂-VASc score, obtained by adding the glomerular filtration rate to CHA₂DS₂-VASc, shows a higher prediction ability for new events and all-cause mortality. The present study aims to assess whether the addition of albuminuria to R₂CHA₂DS₂-VASc score further improves its discrimination ability in predicting all-cause mortality in a sample of high cardiovascular risk population.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Prospective, monocentric, observational study, evaluating a subset of 737 subjects consecutively undergoing to coronary angiography at Coronary Unit of Scientific Institute "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza" from June 2016 to December 2018. The presence of albuminuria was significantly associated with all-cause mortality (p < 0.0001). Any one-point increase of Alb-R₂CHA₂DS₂-VASc score increased mortality of about 1.5-fold (adjusted HR 1.49; 95%CI: 1.37-1.63; p < 0.0001). Considering tertiles of Alb-R₂CHA₂DS₂-VASc, the third tertile showed a 9.5-fold increased risk of mortality (HR 9.52; 95% CI: 5.15-17.60, p < 0.001). Comparing the two scores, the Alb-R₂CHA₂DS₂-VASc score (C-statistic = 0.751; 95%CI: 0.69-0.81) outperformed the R₂-CHA₂DS₂-VASc score (C-statistic = 0.736; 95%CI: 0.68-0.961) in predicting mortality (delta C-statistic = 0.015; 95%CI: 0.001-0.029). The better prediction ability of the Alb-R₂CHA₂DS₂-VASc score was also proven by an IDI of 0.024 (p < 0.0001) and a relative IDI of 24.11% (p < 0.0001), with an NRI = 0.608 (p < 0.00001).

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of albuminuria to R₂CHA₂DS₂-VASc significantly and independently predicts the risk of all-cause mortality in a sample of high CV risk patients. Moreover, Alb-R₂CHA₂DS₂-VASc outperforms R₂CHA₂DS₂-VASc.

Clinical Characteristics and Predictors of Long-Term Prognosis of Acute Peripheral Arterial Ischemia Patients Treated Surgically

BACKGROUND

Acute peripheral arterial ischemia is a rapidly developing loss of perfusion, resulting in ischemic clinical manifestations. This study aimed to assess the incidence of cardiovascular mortality in patients with acute peripheral arterial ischemia and either atrial fibrillation (AF) or sinus rhythm (SR).

METHODS

This observational study involved patients with acute peripheral ischemia treated surgically. Patients were followed-up to assess cardiovascular mortality and its predictors.

RESULTS

The study group included 200 patients with acute peripheral arterial ischemia and either AF (n = 67) or SR (n = 133). No cardiovascular mortality differences between the AF and SR groups were observed. AF patients who died of cardiovascular causes had a higher prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (58.3% vs. 31.6%, p = 0.048) and hypercholesterolemia (31.2% vs. 5.3%, p = 0.028) than those who did not die of such causes. Patients with SR who died of cardiovascular causes more frequently had a GFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m² (47.8% vs. 25.0%, p = 0.03) and were older than those with SR who did not die of such causes. The multivariable analysis shows that hyperlipidemia reduced the risk of cardiovascular mortality in patients with AF, whereas in patients with SR, an age of ≥75 years was the predisposing factor for such mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiovascular mortality of patients with acute ischemia did not differ between patients with AF and SR. Hyperlipidemia reduced the risk of cardiovascular mortality in patients with AF, whereas in patients with SR, an age of ≥75 years was a predisposing factor for such mortality.

Stroke Risk Stratification With the CHADS2 Score in Patients Without Atrial Fibrillation Who Underwent Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

The clinical significance of the CHADS₂ score remains unclear in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) without atrial fibrillation (AF). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between the CHADS₂ score and the long-term risk of ischemic stroke and its severity in patients with CAD with and without AF. Using the CREDO (Coronary Revascularization Demonstrating Outcome study)-Kyoto Registry Cohort-3, the present study population consisted of 11,516 patients with CAD who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention without oral anticoagulants at discharge. We divided the patients into 2 groups according to the presence (n = 721) or absence (n = 10,795) of AF. As the CHADS₂ score increased from 0 or 1 to 6, the cumulative 5-year incidence of ischemic stroke incrementally increased from 2.1% to 17.1% in patients without AF and from 4.2% to 40.7% in patients with AF. The cumulative 5-year incidence of ischemic stroke in patients without AF and a CHADS₂ score of 2 were numerically comparable to that in patients with AF and a CHADS₂ score of 1 (3.4% and 3.7%). In the 423 patients who developed ischemic stroke, the modified Rankin Scale score was not significantly different between patients with and without AF (p for trend = 0.12). In patients with and without AF, the increase in the CHADS₂ score was significantly associated with the greater prevalence of higher modified Rankin Scale scores (p for trend = 0.03 and <0.001, respectively). An increasing CHADS₂ score was associated with an incrementally increased risk for ischemic stroke and greater severity of ischemic stroke in patients with and without AF.

Assessment of the CHA2DS2-VASc Score for the Prediction of Death in Elderly Patients With Coronary Artery Disease and Atrial Fibrillation

Purpose: Coronary artery disease (CAD) and atrial fibrillation (AF) often coexist and lead to a much higher risk of mortality in the elderly population. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score could predict the risk of death in elderly patients with CAD and AF.

Methods: Hospitalized patients aged ≥65 years with a diagnosis of CAD and AF were recruited consecutively. Patients were divided into 5 groups according to the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score (≤2, =3, =4, =5, and ≥6). At least a 1-year follow-up was carried out for the assessment of all-cause death.

Results: A total of 1,579 eligible patients were recruited, with 582 all-cause deaths (6.86 per 100 patient-years) occurring during a follow-up of at least 1 year. With the increase in the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score, the 1-year and 5-year survival rate decreased (96.4% vs. 95.7% vs. 94.0% vs. 86.5% vs. 85.7%, respectively, P < 0.001; 78.4% vs. 68.9% vs. 64.6% vs. 55.5% vs. 50.0%, respectively, P < 0.001). Compared with the patients with CHA₂DS₂-VASc score <5, for patients with CHA₂DS₂-VASc score ≥5, the adjusted hazard ratio for death was 1.78 (95% CI: 1.45–2.18, P < 0.001). The predictive values of the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score ≥5 for in-hospital (C-index = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.62–0.69, P < 0.001), 1-year (C-index = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.63–0.67, P < 0.001) and 5-year (C-index = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.59–0.61, P < 0.001) death were in comparable.

Conclusion: In elderly patients with concomitant CAD and AF, the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score can be used to predict death with moderate accuracy.

Use of the CHA2DS2-VASc score in assessing transradial approach failure

BACKGROUND

Radial access is now considered the preferred approach for coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention because of the low risk of vascular complications. However, radial access failure is not uncommon, leading to crossover to a different access site. The CHA₂DS₂-VASc score is used to estimate stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation. Our study aimed to assess the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score in predicting failure of the transradial approach, resulting in crossover to transfemoral access (TFA) for coronary angiography.

METHODS

We performed a single-center, non-randomized, retrospective study. The study included 1775 patients who underwent coronary angiography with or without subsequent percutaneous intervention between July 2018 and October 2019. The study population was divided into three groups based on the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score: low (≤2), intermediate (3-4), and high score (≥5) groups. The association between the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score and radial access failure was evaluated and compared between the groups.

RESULTS

A total of 197 patients (11.1%) had crossover to the femoral artery. A large percentage of patients (19.2%) had radial access failure in the high CHA₂DS₂-VASc score group (≥5) compared with 12.5% in the intermediate score group (3-4) and only 6.3% in the low score group (≤2). The highest crossover rate (42.9%) was observed in patients with a CHA₂DS₂-VASc score of 8. Higher CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores were also associated with increased fluoroscopy time, contrast administration, and radiation exposure.

CONCLUSION

The CHA₂DS₂-VASc score can predict failure of the transradial approach, with a score of ≥5 having the highest correlation of failure requiring crossover to TFA.

CHA2DS2-VASc Score as a Predictor of Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

INTRODUCTION

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a risk factor for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Recognition of high-risk patients is important and could lead to a different approach and better treatment. The CHA2DS2-VASc score was originally used to predict cerebral infarction in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), but it is also a useful predictor of outcome in other cardiovascular conditions, independent of AF. Therefore, the aim of our research was to assess the role of CHA2DS2-VASc score in predicting cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in CKD patients.

METHODS

Stable nondialysis CKD patients were included. At the time of inclusion, medical history data and standard blood results were collected and CHA2DS2-VASc score was calculated. Patients were followed till the same end date, until kidney transplantation or until their death.

RESULTS

Eighty-seven CKD patients were included (60.3 ± 12.8 years, 66% male). Mean follow-up time was 1,696.5 ± 564.6 days. During the follow-up, 21 patients died and 11 because of cardiovascular reasons. Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that CHA2DS2-VASc score is a significant predictor of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, in which CHA2DS2-VASc score, serum creatinine, urinary albumin/creatinine, hemoglobin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and intact parathyroid hormone were included, CHA2DS2-VASc score was an independent predictor of cardiovascular (HR: 2.04, CI: 1.20-3.45, p = 0.008) and all-cause mortality (HR: 2.06, CI: 1.43-2.97, p = 0.001). The same was true after adding total cholesterol, triglycerides, and smoking status to both the analyses.

CONCLUSION

The CHA2DS2-VASc score is a simple, practical, and quick way to identify the risk for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in CKD patients.