CHA2DS2-VASc

Question 1

What is CHA2DS2-VASc used for?

Answer 1

Used to determine the need to anticoagulate a patient in atrial fibrillation

Question 2

What does each letter stand for in the scoring system for CHA2DS2-VASc?

Answer 2

1. Congestive Heart Failure - 1
2. Hypertension - 1
3. Age >75 years - 2
4. Diabetes mellitus - 1
5. Stroke/TIA/TE - 2
6. Vascular disease (previous MI, peripheral arterial disease or aortic plaque) - 1
7. Age between 65 and 74 years - 1
8. Sexual Category - Female - 1

Question 3

What do the different scorings outcomes mean for CHA2DS2-VASc?

Answer 3

1. If 0 –> Echo to rule out valvular disease
2. Consider anticoagulation for men with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 1. Take the bleeding risk into account
3. Offer anticoagulation to people with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 2 or above, taking bleeding risk into account

Anticoagulation may be with apixaban, dabigatran etexilate, rivaroxaban or a vitamin K antagonist