Brain structure and stroke risk score in subjects without a history of atrial fibrillation

CHA₂DS₂-VASc score system aids in clinical decision-making in subjects with atrial fibrillation (AF). Little is known on the association between CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores and brain structure in patients without cardiac arrhythmia. Detailed brain architecture analysis was performed. Assessment of bivariate correlation between the volume of segmented brain structures and Z-scores of CHA₂DS₂-VASc showed that higher risk scores correlated negatively and significantly with various brain framework. Our study confirms that a cluster of risk factors incorporated in a well-established risk score correlated with brain tissue volume independently of the presence of an arrhythmia.