Predictive role of CHA2DS2-VASc score for cardiovascular events and death in patients with arterial hypertension and stable sinus rhythm

Background The CHA2DS2-VASc score well stratifies the risk for thromboembolic events in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients. This score may also predict thromboembolic events in sinus rhythm populations. Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the prognostic role of CHA2DS2-VASc in a Caucasian community population of patients with arterial hypertension and sinus rhythm. Methods A total of 12,599 arterial hypertension residents not receiving anticoagulation were selected from a community population in Trieste between November 2009 and October 2014: 11,159 sinus rhythm and 1440 NVAF patients. We considered thromboembolic events, cardiovascular hospitalisation and all-cause death in all patients divided according to CHA2DS2-VASc. Results Sinus rhythm patients were 74 (interquartile range 65–81) years old, 50% were women, 32% with CAD, mean CHA2DS2-VASc 3.68 ± 1.47 points, significantly lower than NVAF patients (4.26 ± 1.50, P