Interpretation
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0 (men) / 1 (women) | Low risk; no antithrombotic therapy |
| 1 (men) / 2 (women) | Consider OAC |
| ≥ 2 (men) / ≥ 3 (women) | OAC recommended |
Formula
C: CHF 1 · H: hypertension 1 · A₂: age ≥75 2 · D: diabetes 1 · S₂: stroke/TIA/TE 2 · V: vascular disease 1 · A: age 65–74 1 · Sc: female 1
Clinical pearls
- Female sex is a risk modifier, not a risk factor on its own: a woman scoring 1 for sex alone is low risk.
- Not for valvular AF (moderate–severe mitral stenosis or mechanical valve): those patients need anticoagulation regardless.
Examples
cha2ds2-vasc for a 72 year old woman with hypertension and diabeteschads vasc 80M prior stroke, no chfaf stroke risk 68 yo man with htn
FAQ
When should a patient with AF be anticoagulated?
Guidelines recommend oral anticoagulation at CHA₂DS₂-VASc ≥2 in men or ≥3 in women, and consider it at 1 in men or 2 in women.
What is the difference between CHADS₂ and CHA₂DS₂-VASc?
CHA₂DS₂-VASc adds vascular disease, age 65–74 and female sex, and better identifies truly low-risk patients.