OBJECTIVETo assess the correlation of CHADS₂and CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores for left atrial thrombus in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and the differences in the results between the two scoring systems.

METHODSA total of 397 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation were enrolled in this study. The CHADS₂and CHA2DS2-VASc scoring systems were used for evaluating the risk of left atrial thrombus and their differences in the scores and risk stratifications were compared. The correlation of CHADS₂ and CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores with left atrial thrombus was analyzed.

RESULTSThe average score of CHA₂DS₂-VASc was significantly higher than that of CHADS₂in these patients (1.37 ± 1.19 vs 0.63 ± 0.78, P<0.001). The proportion of high-risk group was significantly higher (P<0.001) while that of low-risk group significantly lower as stratified by CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores than by CHADS₂scores (P<0.001). Transesophageal echocardiography detected left atrial thrombus in 44 of the total patients. The prevalence of left atrial thrombus increased significantly with a higher risk stratification by CHADS₂or CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores (P<0.05). Univariate analysis showed that female gender, age ≥ 65 years, left atrium diameter ≥ 38 mm, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 40%, hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke history, CHADS₂≥ 2, and CHA₂DS₂-VASc ≥ 2 were all correlated with left atrial thrombus, but multivariate logistic analysis identified only CHA₂DS₂-VASc ≥ 2 as the independent risk factor for left atrial thrombus (OR=9.85, 95% CI: 2.178-44.542, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe average score of CHA₂DS₂-VASc is higher than that of CHADS₂and has better predictive ability for left atrial thrombus.