A better system to predict stroke?

Comparison of the ATRIA, CHADS2, and CHA2DS2-VASc Stroke Risk Scores in Predicting Ischaemic Stroke in a Large Swedish Cohort of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

The ATRIA stroke risk score (ATRIA) was developed and validated in two large California community AF cohorts. We compared the performance of the ATRIA, CHADS2, and CHA2DS2-VASc scores in a national Swedish AF (SAF) cohort.

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ATRIA
Anticoagulation and Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation
Stroke Risk Score

http://www.mdcalc.com/atria-stroke-risk-score/

The Atria model weights age much more than other risk factors as compared to the CHADS2, and CHA2DS2-VASc.

ATRIA stroke risk model
Risk factor 	Points without prior stroke 	Points with prior stroke
Age ≥85 	 	  	 	6 	 	 	 	 9
Age 75–84  	  	 	5 	 	 	 	 7
Age 65–74 	  	 	3 	 	 	 	 7
Age <65 	 	 	0 	 	 	 	 8
Female 	 	 	 	1 	 	 	  	 1
Diabetes mellitus 	 	1 	 	 	  	 1
Chronic heart failure 	 	1 	 	  	 	 1
Hypertension 	 	 	1 	 	 	  	 1
Proteinuriaa 	 	 	1 	 	 	  	 1
eGFR < 45 or ESRD 	 	1 	 	  	 	 1

Age - certainly, but there are many other important and influencing factors of which we should be aware when it comes to hyperviscosity and the risk of stroke and MI. The inflammation factor is huge.

This former post lists various other markers that contribute to the tendency for blood to become thick and sticky. It's important that everyone, especially afibbers, have these labs and take steps to insure they are in the normal ranges. In the responses, Shannon talks about the Meridian Valley Blood Viscosity test.[www.afibbers.org]

In the post responses, Hans reminded readers at the time about the negative impact of EMF's and causing the tendency for blood platelets to clump. Nothing has changed in that regard and more people are exposed as new gadgets reach the market and more time is spent in the EMF environment.

Many influences can cause a tendency for blood platelets to aggregate or clump. Lifestyle and various ailments also contribute to the hyperviscosity tendency and it can happen in young as well as the elderly. Genetics can play a part as well (ie, Hemochromatosis) so it's good to be tested at least annually. If your doctor doesn't routinely test these, then you can ask for them specifically.

Overly sticky, thick, inflamed blood has a tendency for adverse clotting. Test, don’t guess. INR measurements while on warfarin/Coumadin only indicate that specific number and as we know, warfarin does not protect us 100% from the risk of adverse clotting. If one or several these risk markers are out of the safe range, you can still have complications.

This is the list for essential testing
Homocysteine
Fibrinogen
Ferritin
High Sensitivity or Cardiac C-reactive protein
Hemoglobin A1C
Lipoprotein (a)
Interleukin – 6
Oxidized LDL

Jackie