TY - JOUR
T1 - Predicting left atrial thrombi in atrial fibrillation
AU - Wysokinski, Waldemar E.
AU - Ammash, Naser
AU - Sobande, Folakemi
AU - Kalsi, Henna
AU - Hodge, David
AU - McBane, Robert D.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by Mayo Clinic Foundation CR 20 grant. In addition, biostatistical support was provided by an internal grant from the Mayo Clinic Division of Cardiology .
PY - 2010/4
Y1 - 2010/4
N2 - Background: The aim of the study was to determine whether CHADS2 score is predictive of left atrial appendage thrombus (LAAT) in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). Strategies for effective stroke prevention in AF require tools capable of identifying those patients at greatest risk for embolization of LAAT and most likely to benefit from warfarin. Nearly half of strokes in AF are due to noncardioembolic mechanisms for which antiplatelet therapy would be more appropriate. Previous attempts to develop such tools have been limited by including patients without proven cardioembolism. Methods: Nonanticoagulated, nonvalvular AF patients with (cases) or without (controls) LAAT by transesophageal echocardiography were identified using Mayo Clinic Echocardiography and Cardioversion Unit Databases (Rochester, MN). Type and duration of AF, CHADS2 score, and echocardiography measures were compared to determine variables predictive of LAAT. Results: The CHADS2 score was significantly higher for cases (n = 110, mean ± SD 2.8 ± 1.6) compared to controls (n = 387, 1.6 ± 1.3). By multivariate analysis, independent predictors of LAAT included heart failure (HR 5.78, P < 0001), prior stroke/transient ischemic attack (HR 3.94, P < .0001), diabetes mellitus (HR 1.98, P = .015), permanent AF (HR 3.02, P < .05), AF duration (HR 2.24, P < .05), and spontaneous echocardiographic contrast (HR 4.35, P = .005). Using these elements, a new scoring system provided cleaner case-control separation (C-index 0.90) and higher predictive power compared to CHADS2 (C-index 0.71). Conclusions: The CHADS2 score predicts the presence of LAAT in AF patients. Some, but not all, variables within this score are predictive of LAAT. By including only echo and clinical variables predictive of LAAT, our novel scoring system better identified those AF patients at greatest cardioembolic risk.
AB - Background: The aim of the study was to determine whether CHADS2 score is predictive of left atrial appendage thrombus (LAAT) in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). Strategies for effective stroke prevention in AF require tools capable of identifying those patients at greatest risk for embolization of LAAT and most likely to benefit from warfarin. Nearly half of strokes in AF are due to noncardioembolic mechanisms for which antiplatelet therapy would be more appropriate. Previous attempts to develop such tools have been limited by including patients without proven cardioembolism. Methods: Nonanticoagulated, nonvalvular AF patients with (cases) or without (controls) LAAT by transesophageal echocardiography were identified using Mayo Clinic Echocardiography and Cardioversion Unit Databases (Rochester, MN). Type and duration of AF, CHADS2 score, and echocardiography measures were compared to determine variables predictive of LAAT. Results: The CHADS2 score was significantly higher for cases (n = 110, mean ± SD 2.8 ± 1.6) compared to controls (n = 387, 1.6 ± 1.3). By multivariate analysis, independent predictors of LAAT included heart failure (HR 5.78, P < 0001), prior stroke/transient ischemic attack (HR 3.94, P < .0001), diabetes mellitus (HR 1.98, P = .015), permanent AF (HR 3.02, P < .05), AF duration (HR 2.24, P < .05), and spontaneous echocardiographic contrast (HR 4.35, P = .005). Using these elements, a new scoring system provided cleaner case-control separation (C-index 0.90) and higher predictive power compared to CHADS2 (C-index 0.71). Conclusions: The CHADS2 score predicts the presence of LAAT in AF patients. Some, but not all, variables within this score are predictive of LAAT. By including only echo and clinical variables predictive of LAAT, our novel scoring system better identified those AF patients at greatest cardioembolic risk.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77950211910&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77950211910&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ahj.2009.12.043
DO - 10.1016/j.ahj.2009.12.043
M3 - Article
C2 - 20362727
AN - SCOPUS:77950211910
SN - 0002-8703
VL - 159
SP - 665
EP - 671
JO - American heart journal
JF - American heart journal
IS - 4
ER -