Importance and usage of the CHA2DS2-VASc score in predicting acute stent thrombosis

OBJECTIVE: The CHA2DS2-VASc score is used to estimate thromboembolic risk in atrial fibrillation (AF). Its usefulness in predicting outcome in patients after a percutaneous coronary intervention is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the predictive value of the CHA2DS2-VASc score in AF-free patients who have undergone stent implantation. DESIGN: Patients were evaluated retrospectively. Among the 1371 patients, 38 presented with acute stent thrombosis (ST) and were included in the study. The CHA2DS2-VASc score was calculated before percutaneous coronary intervention and the association between the score and stent thrombosis was investigated. RESULTS: The patients were grouped into ST (+) and ST (-). The average CHA2DS2-VASc score for the ST (+) group was 3.79, whereas that for the ST (-) group was 2.16 (P<0.001). A direct correlation was observed between CHA2DS2-VASc scores and the rate of ST. When patients with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of greater than 2 were compared with those with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of up to 2, the higher score had a higher frequency of ST (P<0.001) and multivariate analysis identified the CHA2DS2-VASc score as an independent predictor of acute ST. CONCLUSION: A CHA2DS2-VASc score of greater than 2 was found to be an independent predictor for incidence of ST. The role of the CHA2DS2-VASc score in predicting ST has not been investigated earlier in an AF-free population and our study is the first to explore this aspect.