ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cerebrovascular and coronary artery disease share risk factors. The aim was to study CHA2DS2-VASc score as predictor of stroke incidence and death in a sample of patients with sinus rhythm and stable ischemic heart disease (sIHD) during long-term follow-up. METHODS: 1184 patients with sIHD and without atrial fibrillation were included in this single-centre prospective cohort study between February 2000 and January 2004. Stroke and death prediction abilities of CHA2DS2-VASc score in this population were investigated. RESULTS: The median age was 66 (interquartile range (IQR), 60-73 years). The mean follow-up was 11.2 ± 10 years (maximum 17 years). Along this period, 137 patients (11.6% of the sample) suffered a stroke. The mean value of CHA2DS2-VASc score was 3.04 ± 1.36, with CHA2DS2-VASc score ≤ 4 in 85.5% of the sample. Higher CHA2DS2-VASc score at baseline was associated with higher risk of suffering stroke (Hazard Ratio = 1.36, 95% CI 1.20-1.54, p < 0,001) and all-cause death during follow-up (Hazard Ratio = 1.49, 95% CI 1.40-1.58, p < 0,001). CONCLUSIONS: Higher CHA2DS2-VASc score values were associated with higher risk of stroke and all-cause mortality during long-term follow-up in this real-world sample of patients with sIHD in sinus rhythm.
