CHADS2 Score
Anticoagulation in Atrial Fibrillation – CHADS2 Score
The CHADS2 score is a stroke risk stratification tool in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and is used to determine the level of anticoagulation therapy required. The higher the CHADS2 score, the greater the risk of stroke.
The CHADS2 scoring table is shown below. Adding together the points that correspond to the patient’s conditions will result in a score that is used to estimate stroke risk:
|
|
Condition |
Points |
|
C |
Congestive Heart Failure |
1 |
|
H |
Hypertension (or treated hypertenstion) |
1 |
|
A |
Age > 75 years |
1 |
|
D |
Diabetes |
1 |
|
S2 |
Prior Stroke or TIA |
2 |
A CHADS2 score of 2 corresponds to an annualised stroke risk of 4%.
The following treatment strategies are recommended taking into account potential contraindications to the recommended drugs:
|
CHADS2 |
Risk |
Anticoagulation |
|
0 |
Low |
Aspirin |
|
1 |
Moderate |
Aspirin or Warfarin |
|
2 |
Moderate or High |
Warfarin |
For further information, go to Prescribing Practice Review 44 on the National Prescribing Service web site at http://www.nps.org.au/