Wait, Maybe One CHA₂DS₂-VASc Point Is a Concern

In a recent Swedish Registry study, patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and a CHA₂DS₂-VASc score of 1 and not on oral anticoagulants had a low risk for stroke: 0.1% to 0.2% annually for women and 0.5% to 0.7% for men (NEJM JW Cardiol Mar 2015 and J Am Coll Cardiol 2015 Jan 27; 65:225 and 233). Now, researchers in Taiwan have conducted a similar study, assessing stroke risk in men with CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores of 1 and women with scores of 2 (female sex being a point itself). Participants were not on anticoagulation, including antiplatelet agents. Data were from the National Medical Registry of Taiwan, which includes 99% of the total population and contains outpatient and inpatient diagnosis and data on strokes and all risk factors in the CHA_2…