Professor Gregory Lip Discusses CHA2DS2-VASc Tool for Predicting Stroke Risk in Atrial Fibrillation — Video

Professor Gregory Lip Discusses CHA2DS2-VASc Tool for Predicting Stroke Risk in Atrial Fibrillation — Video

By Mellanie True Hills

October 24, 2011

  • Summary: This video discusses the CHA2DS2-VASc tool for predicting stroke risk in atrial fibrillation and why aspirin should not be used for stroke prevention.
  • Reading and watching time is approximately 10 minutes

In this video interview, Dr. Gregory Lip, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Birmingham in the UK, discussed the CHA2DS2-VASc tool, which was recently adopted by the European Society of Cardiology Atrial Fibrillation Guidelines for predicting stroke risk in atrial fibrillation.

The CHA2DS2-VASc tool is especially useful for predicting which patients are truly low risk and do not need to be on anticoagulants, and which patients are not low risk and thus should be on anticoagulants such as warfarin (Coumadin) or the newer drugs. The CHA2DS2-VASc tool identifies additional risk factors that were left out of the CHADS2 scoring tool, including being female, age 65-74, or having vascular (heart) disease.

For truly low risk patients, the guidelines specified that, given a choice between aspirin or nothing, the choice should be nothing because there is very little to support the use of aspirin in those patients. In fact, aspirin has a tendency to harm them due to increased hemorrhages (bleeding).

View the video interview with Professor Gregory Lip (approximately 7 ½ minutes):

Learn more about the CHA2DS2-VASc and CHADS2 tools, the European Society of Cardiology Guidelines, and the latest on the issues with aspirin:

About Gregory Y.H. Lip, MD:

Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Birmingham Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK

See Professor Lip’s profile and publications

Video Transcript: Coming Soon