Cardiac Structural or Functional Changes Associated with CHA2DS2-VASc Scores in Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Echocardiography

摘要

BACKGROUND CHA2DS2-VASc is the most widely accepted scoring system for atrial fibrillation (AF) to assess stroke risk, although little has been revealed regarding the accompanying cardiac functional/structural changes. This echocardiography study was undertaken to understand the changes related to CHA2DS2-VASc scores. METHODS A total of 4,795 nonvalvular AF patients were enrolled for the cohort, from which 591 were excluded as they did not meet the inclusion criteria. Based on the CHA2DS2-VASc scores, the remaining 4,204 patients included in the study were divided into 4 groups: 0 to 1 (n = 991); 2 to 3 (n = 1,642); 4 to 6 (n = 1,407); 7 to 9 (n = 164). RESULTS Increase in the left ventricular mass index and prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were observed with elevating CHA2DS2-VASc scores (p 2DS2-VASc score groups (p 2DS2-VASc scores 2 or higher. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that increasing CHA2DS2-VASc scores are associated with impaired diastolic function that may represent high left atrial pressure favoring thrombogenic propensity.