CHADS₂ score is not related to neurological severity or outcome of stroke in patients with NVAF

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether severity and outcome of acute cerebral infarction with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) are related to CHADS₂ score or not. We reviewed medical records of 236 consecutive patients with acute brain infarction with NVAF. We investigated the relationship between CHADS₂ score and NIH stroke scale (NIHSS) at admission, and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge. The NIHSS was less than 5 in 41.1%, 5–22 in 54.7%, and more than 22 in 4.2%, and the mRS was 0 or 1 in 33.5%, 2–3 in 25.0%, 4–6 in 41.5%. There was no relationship between CHADS₂ score and NIHSS or between CHADS₂ score and mRS. The score of CHADS₂ is not related to neurological severity or outcome of brain infarction with NVAF. Even if CHADS₂ score is low, warfarin treatment may be recommended to avoid stroke.