LiverpoolMedics - Resource for Liverpool Medics - Students Studying Medicine in Liverpool UK

The CHADS₂ score is a clinical prediction tool that estimates the risk of a stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (non-rheuumatic). It is used to determine whether the patient should be treated with anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy in order to reduce their risk of stroke. There is also an updated version (not yet used by NICE, but used elsewhere in Europe) called the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score that is able to better startify low risk patients (see menu to left for link to this clinical calculator). In the UK, NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) recommends the use of the CHADS₂ scoring system.

You must give information about all five criteria - congestive heart failure, hypertension, age, diabetes and stroke/TIA - in order to startify the patient for the risk of stroke.

Congestive Heart Failure:

Yes

No

Hypertension:

Yes

No

Age > 75 years:

Yes

No

Diabetes Mellitus:

Yes

No

Stroke or TIA:

Yes

No

References

Gage BF, Waterman AD, Shannon W, et. al. Validation of clinical classification schemes for predicting stroke: results from the National Registry of Atrial Fibrillation. JAMA. 2001 Jun 13;285(22):2864-70.
Go AS, Hylek EM, Chang Y, et. al. Anticoagulation therapy for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: how well do randomized trials translate into clinical practice?. JAMA. 2003 Nov 26;290(20):2685-92.

Last Update: 31 January 2008