Association of CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc Score With Remodeling of Left Atrial Appendage Assessed by Cardiac Computed Tomography

BACKGROUND: CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score (congestive heart failure; hypertension; ages ≥ 74 years (2 points); diabetes; stroke, transient ischemic attack, or systemic embolism (2 points); vascular disease; ages 65 - 74 years; sex (female)) is a widely used clinical scale to estimate the risk of stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the relationship between the increase in CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score and atrial remodeling remains unsettled. METHODS: Twenty-five consecutive patients undergoing cardiac computed tomography (CT) were recruited. The systolic and diastolic volumes of left atrium and left atrial appendage (LAA) were measured. Risk of stroke was estimated using the CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score. The relationship of the CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score with morphological and functional variables was analyzed by Pearson’s correlation. RESULTS: A positive correlation was documented between the CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score and systolic (r = 0.419, P = 0.037) and diastolic (r = 0.415, P = 0.039) LAA volumes. Atrial volumes and left atrial ejection fraction showed no significant correlations with CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows, for the first time, a positive correlation between CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score and LAA remodeling.