Epidemiological study shows stroke risk varies across atrial fibrillation types and CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc scores, indicating anticoagulant use matters.
Key Points
Assess differences in stroke outcomes between types of atrial fibrillation and CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score.
Conducted an epidemiological study at Tulane Medical Center with AF patients from January 2010 to March 2020.
Extracted data from the REACHnet electronic medical records database for AF patients aged 18 and older.
Divided patients into groups based on CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc scores and type of atrial fibrillation (PaAF vs. PeAF).
Utilized Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression for analysis.
Included 1,079 patients with AF: 576 PaAF high CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc, 215 PaAF low CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc, 214 PeAF high CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc, and 74 PeAF low CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc.
Significant differences in stroke risk were found among groups (p < 0.001).
High CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc patients had more strokes than low CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc patients regardless of AF type.
Both PaAF and PeAF low CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc groups had a lower risk of stroke compared to high CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc.