Discriminative Accuracy of CHA2DS2-VASc Score, and Development of Predictive Accuracy Model Using Machine Learning

Waqas Ullah1, Abhinav Nair2, Eric Warner3

  • 1Department of Interventional Cardiology, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA, USA.

Cardiology Research
|October 31, 2025
PubMed

Insights

The CHA2DS2-VASc score underestimates stroke risk in cardiac amyloidosis with atrial fibrillation (CA-AF). A new E-CHADS score, incorporating ESRD, dementia, and cancer, shows improved prediction accuracy for ischemic stroke in CA-AF patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Geriatrics

Background:

  • Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) with atrial fibrillation (AF) poses a significant risk for ischemic stroke.
  • The current CHA2DS2-VASc score is insufficient for accurately predicting stroke risk in CA-AF patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the predictive accuracy of the CHA2DS2-VASc score for ischemic stroke in CA-AF patients.
  • To develop and validate a novel, more accurate stroke risk prediction model for CA-AF patients.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the National Readmission Database (NRD) to compare outcomes between CA-AF and non-CA-AF patients.
  • Employed multivariate regression and the AutoScore machine learning framework to develop a new stroke risk model.
  • Assessed model performance using receiver operating characteristic analysis and area under the curve (AUC).

Main Results:

  • The CHA2DS2-VASc score demonstrated poor discriminative accuracy for 30-day stroke risk in CA-AF (AUC 49%).
  • The novel E-CHADS score (ESRD, CHF, HTN, cancer, dementia, DM) achieved excellent predictive ability for 30-day ischemic stroke risk in CA-AF (AUC 80%).
  • CA-AF patients exhibited significantly higher adjusted odds of mortality, stroke, and hemorrhage compared to non-CA-AF patients.

Conclusions:

  • The CHA2DS2-VASc score is inadequate for predicting ischemic stroke in patients with CA and AF.
  • The proposed E-CHADS score, incorporating ESRD, dementia, and cancer, offers superior discriminative accuracy for ischemic stroke risk in this population.
Abstract