26 May CHARGE-AF Score May Be Better Predictor of Atrial Fibrillation Risk
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Ingrid Elisabeth-Christophersen
Ingrid Elisabeth Christophersen MD PhD
Postdoctoral research fellow
Cardiovascular Research Center (CVRC)
Massachusetts General Hospital
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Dr. Christophersen: Several recent studies have utilized the CHA2DS2-VASc risk score to predict risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the CHA2DS2-VASc was developed for prediction of stroke risk in patients with AF and has not been validated for prediction of AF risk. We have evaluated how well the CHA2DS2-VASc performed at predicting risk of AF compared with the most validated clinical risk score for AF – the CHARGE-AF risk score – in the Framingham Heart Study. We showed that the CHARGE-AF risk score performed better at predicting risk of AF than the CHA2DS2-VASc.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Dr. Christophersen: We aimed at identifying the most robust risk score for atrial fibrillation, which can be used as a tool for primary and secondary prevention of AF, including prevention of serious complications, such as stroke. This study suggests that the CHARGE-AF risk score could be such a tool; however, further studies are needed to confirm our results.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Dr. Christophersen: Our findings should be validated in a larger population and in populations of other ancestries to improve generalizability. Further, there is a need for studies evaluating preventive measures against AF, using a robust clinical risk score for atrial fibrillation to identify individuals at increased risk for AF.
MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.
Citation:
A comparison of the CHARGE-AF and the CHA2DS2-VASc risk scores for prediction of atrial fibrillation in the Framingham Heart Study
Christophersen, Ingrid E. et al.
American Heart Journal , May 17, 2016
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2016.05.004
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Last Updated on May 26, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD