The CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc Score as a Predictor of Left Atrial Thrombus in Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation

Objective: To investigate whether or not the CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score predicts left atrial (LA) thrombus detected on pre-cardioversion transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Materials and Methods: The medical records of patients who had undergone TEE were reviewed to assess the presence of LA thrombus prior to direct-current cardioversion for atrial fibrillation (AF). The CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score was calculated for each patient. Clinical TEE reports were reviewed for the presence of LA thrombus. Patients with a valve prosthesis or rheumatic mitral valve disease were excluded from this study. Results: A total of 309 patients were identified. The mean age was 70.1 ± 9.8 years and 151 (49%) patients were males and 158 (51%) were females. LA thrombus was seen in 32 (10.3%) of the 309 patients. Fifty (16.2%) patients had a low CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score (0–1), 230 (74.4%) had an intermediate score (2–4) and 29 (9.4%) had a high score (5–9). The incidence of LA thrombus in the low, intermediate and high CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score groups was 0, 4.4 and 68.7%, respectively. The LA thrombus risk increased with increasing CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc scores. On multivariate logistic analysis, the CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score (OR 3.26, 95% CI 2.3–4.65; p = 0.001) and age (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.88–0.98; p = 0.004) were independent risk factors for LA thrombus in patients with non-valvular AF. Conclusion: A high CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score was independently associated with the presence of LA thrombus in patients with non-valvular AF.