Research Article

Utility of the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score for predicting cerebral embolic events in patients with infective endocarditis

Volume: 8 Number: 4 July 30, 2025
TR EN

Utility of the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score for predicting cerebral embolic events in patients with infective endocarditis

Abstract

Aims: Cerebral embolic events (CEEs) are among the most serious complications of infective endocarditis (IE), yet risk stratification remains challenging in routine clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score in predicting CEEs during the active phase of IE, using a simple and accessible clinical tool. Methods: This retrospective single-center study included 158 patients with definite IE. CEEs were defined as ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack confirmed by neuroimaging. The association between the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score and CEEs was assessed using logistic regression. Two models were constructed; model 1 (baseline clinical and echocardiographic variables) and model 2 (model 1+CHA₂DS₂-VASc). Model performance was evaluated using AUC, AIC, Nagelkerke R², Brier Score, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis. Results: CEEs occurred in 32 patients (20%). The CHA₂DS₂-VASc score was significantly higher in patients with CEEs (p=0.011) and remained an independent predictor in multivariate analysis (OR 3.00, 95% CI: 1.26-7.18, p=0.013). Incorporating the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score into the predictive model led to a substantial improvement in discrimination, increasing the AUC from 0.686 to 0.732. A threshold score of 2 provided optimal classification, demonstrating favorable sensitivity and specificity for identifying patients at risk of CEEs. Notably, the predictive value of the score remained robust across key subgroups, including those with left-sided IE, prosthetic material, atrial fibrillation, and preserved ejection fraction. Conclusion: The CHA₂DS₂-VASc score is a strong and independent predictor of CEEs in patients with IE. Its integration into clinical assessment may enhance embolic risk stratification, particularly during the active phase of the disease, and support timely decision-making in this high-risk population.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

None

Project Number

None

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital (Approval Number: KAEK/2025.117). The protocol titled “The Role of the CHA₂DS₂-VASc Score in Predicting Cerebral Embolic Events in Patients with Infective Endocarditis” was reviewed and deemed ethically appropriate by the committee

Thanks

None

References

  1. Delgado V, Ajmone Marsan N, de Waha S, et al. 2023 ESC guidelines for the management of endocarditis: developed by the task force on the management of endocarditis of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) endorsed by the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) and the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM). Eur Heart J. 2023;44(39):3948-4042. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehad193
  2. Duval X, Iung B, Klein I, et al. Effect of early cerebral magnetic resonance imaging on clinical decisions in infective endocarditis: a prospective study. Ann Intern Med. 2010;152(8):497-504. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-152-8-201004200-00006
  3. Thuny F, Disalvo G, Belliard O, et al. Risk of embolism and death in infective endocarditis: prognostic value of echocardiography-a prospective multicenter study. Circulation. 2005;112(1):69-75. doi:10. 1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.104.493155
  4. Hess A, Klein I, Iung B, et al. Brain MRI findings in neurologically asymptomatic patients with infective endocarditis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2013;34(8):1579-1584. doi:10.3174/ajnr.A3582
  5. Turan B. Value of CHADS-VASc score in diverse cardiovascular conditions. Turk Kardiyol Dern Ars. 2023;51(2):83-84. doi:10.5543/tkda. 2023.51706
  6. Zhang J, Lenarczyk R, Marin F, et al. The interpretation of CHA2DS2-VASc score components in clinical practice: a joint survey by the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) Scientific Initiatives Committee, the EHRA Young Electrophysiologists, the Association of Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professionals, and the European Society of Cardiology Council on Stroke. Europace. 2021;23(2):314-322. doi:10.1093/europace/euaa358
  7. Cabezon G, Pulido P, Díaz JL, et al. Embolic events in infective endocarditis: a comprehensive review. Rev Cardiovasc Med. 2024;25(3): 97. doi:10.31083/j.rcm2503097
  8. Adams HP, Bendixen BH, Kappelle LJ, et al. Classification of subtype of acute ischemic stroke: definitions for use in a multicenter clinical trial. TOAST. Trial of org 10172 in acute stroke treatment. Stroke. 1993;24(1): 35-41. doi:10.1161/01.str.24.1.35

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Cardiology

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

July 30, 2025

Submission Date

April 25, 2025

Acceptance Date

May 29, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 8 Number: 4

APA
Mammadli, A., Demirtola, A. İ., & İnan, D. (2025). Utility of the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score for predicting cerebral embolic events in patients with infective endocarditis. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, 8(4), 556-563. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1683602
AMA
1.Mammadli A, Demirtola Aİ, İnan D. Utility of the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score for predicting cerebral embolic events in patients with infective endocarditis. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2025;8(4):556-563. doi:10.32322/jhsm.1683602
Chicago
Mammadli, Anar, Ayşe İrem Demirtola, and Duygu İnan. 2025. “Utility of the CHA₂DS₂-VASc Score for Predicting Cerebral Embolic Events in Patients With Infective Endocarditis”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 8 (4): 556-63. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1683602.
EndNote
Mammadli A, Demirtola Aİ, İnan D (July 1, 2025) Utility of the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score for predicting cerebral embolic events in patients with infective endocarditis. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 8 4 556–563.
IEEE
[1]A. Mammadli, A. İ. Demirtola, and D. İnan, “Utility of the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score for predicting cerebral embolic events in patients with infective endocarditis”, J Health Sci Med / JHSM, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 556–563, July 2025, doi: 10.32322/jhsm.1683602.
ISNAD
Mammadli, Anar - Demirtola, Ayşe İrem - İnan, Duygu. “Utility of the CHA₂DS₂-VASc Score for Predicting Cerebral Embolic Events in Patients With Infective Endocarditis”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 8/4 (July 1, 2025): 556-563. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1683602.
JAMA
1.Mammadli A, Demirtola Aİ, İnan D. Utility of the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score for predicting cerebral embolic events in patients with infective endocarditis. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2025;8:556–563.
MLA
Mammadli, Anar, et al. “Utility of the CHA₂DS₂-VASc Score for Predicting Cerebral Embolic Events in Patients With Infective Endocarditis”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, vol. 8, no. 4, July 2025, pp. 556-63, doi:10.32322/jhsm.1683602.
Vancouver
1.Anar Mammadli, Ayşe İrem Demirtola, Duygu İnan. Utility of the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score for predicting cerebral embolic events in patients with infective endocarditis. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2025 Jul. 1;8(4):556-63. doi:10.32322/jhsm.1683602

Interuniversity Board (UAK) Equivalency: Article published in Ulakbim TR Index journal [10 POINTS], and Article published in other (excuding 1a, b, c) international indexed journal (1d) [5 POINTS].

The Directories (indexes) and Platforms we are included in are at the bottom of the page.

Note: Our journal is not WOS indexed and therefore is not classified as Q.

You can download Council of Higher Education (CoHG) [Yüksek Öğretim Kurumu (YÖK)] Criteria) decisions about predatory/questionable journals and the author's clarification text and journal charge policy from your browser. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/journal/2316/file/4905/show







The indexes of the journal are ULAKBİM TR Dizin, ICI World of Journals, DOAJ, Directory of Research Journals Indexing (DRJI), General Impact Factor, ASOS Index, WorldCat (OCLC), MIAR, OpenAIRE, Türkiye Citation Index, Türk Medline Index, InfoBase Index, Scilit, etc.

       images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRB9r6zRLDl0Pz7om2DQkiTQXqDtuq64Eb1Qg&usqp=CAU

500px-WorldCat_logo.svg.png

atifdizini.png

logo_world_of_journals_no_margin.png

images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcTNpvUjQ4Ffc6uQBqMQrqYMR53c7bRqD9rohCINkko0Y1a_hPSn&usqp=CAU

doaj.png  

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSpOQFsFv3RdX0lIQJC3SwkFIA-CceHin_ujli_JrqBy3A32A_Tx_oMoIZn96EcrpLwTQg&usqp=CAU

ici2.png

asos-index.png

drji.png





The platforms of the journal are Google Scholar, CrossRef (DOI), ResearchBib, Open Access, COPE, ICMJE, NCBI, ORCID, Creative Commons, etc.

COPE-logo-300x199.jpgimages?q=tbn:ANd9GcQR6_qdgvxMP9owgnYzJ1M6CS_XzR_d7orTjA&usqp=CAU

icmje_1_orig.png

cc.logo.large.png

ncbi.pngimages?q=tbn:ANd9GcRBcJw8ia8S9TI4Fun5vj3HPzEcEKIvF_jtnw&usqp=CAU

ORCID_logo.png

1*mvsP194Golg0Dmo2rjJ-oQ.jpeg


Our Journal using the DergiPark system indexed are;

Ulakbim TR Dizin,  Index Copernicus, ICI World of JournalsDirectory of Research Journals Indexing (DRJI), General Impact FactorASOS Index, OpenAIRE, MIAR,  EuroPub, WorldCat (OCLC)DOAJ,  Türkiye Citation Index, Türk Medline Index, InfoBase Index


Our Journal using the DergiPark system platforms are;

Google, Google Scholar, CrossRef (DOI), ResearchBib, ICJME, COPE, NCBI, ORCID, Creative Commons, Open Access, and etc.


Journal articles are evaluated as "Double-Blind Peer Review". 

Our journal has adopted the Open Access Policy and articles in JHSM are Open Access and fully comply with Open Access instructions. All articles in the system can be accessed and read without a journal user.  https//dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/jhsm/page/9535

Journal charge policy   https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/jhsm/page/10912

Our journal has been indexed in DOAJ as of May 18, 2020.

Our journal has been indexed in TR-Dizin as of March 12, 2021.


17873

Articles published in Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine have open access and are licensed under the Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International License.