Relationship between the CHA2DS2-VASc score and atrial fibrillation in patients hospitalised due to heart failure

Abstract

Background: Heart failure (HF) has become an epidemic. A similar situation is also observed for atrial fibrillation (AF). The  CHA2DS2-VASc score is one of the most useful tools for thromboembolic risk assessment. 

Aims: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of AF in patients with decompensated HF, who were divided into subgroups according to the CHA2DS2-VASc score. 

Methods: We analysed the prevalence of AF in a group of 1108 patients (327 women) hospitalised due to HF decompensa- tion in medical centres of different referral levels. Twenty-one patients refused to participate in the registry. The data were collected from Polish centres included in the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Long-Term Registry. The recruit- ment period was from 2011 to 2014. The data were analysed retrospectively. Patients were divided into groups according to the CHA2DS2-VASC score. 

Results: The study sample was characterised by a high occurrence of AF (44.3%), with the highest prevalence in patients with a CHA2DS2-VASC score ≥ 6 (61.3%, p = 0.01). 

Conclusions: The CHA2DS2-VASc score may be a useful tool for detecting patients with HF characterised by the highest risk of AF.