The CHADS2 Score to Predict Stroke Risk in the Absence of Atrial Fibrillation in Hypertensive Patients Aged 65 Years or Older

The CHADS2 score is a proven, essential tool for estimating cardioembolic risk (mainly stroke) in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, with the purpose of determining the indication for anticoagulant therapy. In this study we analyzed the use of CHADS2 in hypertensive patients without known atrial fibrillation in a Mediterranean population. The study included 887 hypertensive patients aged 65 years or older without atrial fibrillation or anticoagulant therapy, who attended a medical consultation. Data on the patients’ main risk factors, cardiovascular history, and medication were collected, basic laboratory analyses and electrocardiography were performed, and the CHADS2 score (heart failure, hypertension, age ≥ 75 years, diabetes mellitus, and previous stroke or transient ischemic attack) was calculated. A clinical follow-up was carried out, recording hospital admissions for a stroke or transient ischemic attack. The median duration of follow-up was 804 days. Mean age was 72.5 (SD,5.7) years, 46.6% were men, 27.8% had diabetes, and 8.6% were smokers. During follow-up, 40 patients were hospitalized for a stroke or transient ischemic attack (4.5%). The event-free survival analysis showed significant differences according to the CHADS2 score (log rank test, P < .001). On multivariate analysis, smoking and CHADS2 ≥3 were independent predictors of stroke or transient ischemic attack. The CHADS2 may be useful for estimating the risk of stroke or transient ischemic attack in hypertensive patients without known atrial fibrillation. La puntuación CHADS2 es una demostrada herramienta fundamental para identificar el riesgo cardioembólico, fundamentalmente el ictus, de pacientes con fibrilación auricular no valvular, con el propósito de indicar la terapia anticoagulante. El objetivo del presente estudio es analizar la utilidad de dicha puntuación para pacientes hipertensos sin fibrilación auricular conocida en una zona mediterránea. Se incluyó a 887 pacientes hipertensos de edad ≥ 65 años, no anticoagulados y sin fibrilación auricular, que acudieron a la consulta médica. Se recogieron los principales factores de riesgo, la historia cardiovascular, el tratamiento farmacológico, una analítica básica y un electrocardiograma y se calculó la puntuación CHADS2 (insuficiencia cardiaca, hipertensión, edad ≥ 75 años, diabetes mellitus e ictus previo o accidente isquémico transitorio). Se realizó un seguimiento clínico con recogida de los ingresos hospitalarios por ic