Which scoring system must be at least 3 for a patient to be eligible for LAAO?

The CHA2DS2-VASc scoring system is integral in assessing stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation. This score evaluates various risk factors, including congestive heart failure, hypertension, age, diabetes status, prior stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), and vascular disease, amongst others.

For a patient to be considered for Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion (LAAO) as a method of stroke prevention, a CHA2DS2-VASc score of at least 3 indicates a significant risk of thromboembolic events, justifying the need for intervention. The score serves as a guideline to determine those at heightened risk of stroke, thereby making LAAO a viable option for reducing that risk.

In contrast, the CHADS scoring system, which is a simpler version prior to CHA2DS2-VASc, has a different threshold and doesn't account for all the factors considered in CHA2DS2-VASc. HAS-BLED primarily assesses bleeding risk rather than stroke risk, making it irrelevant to LAAO eligibility. FRAX is utilized for fracture risk assessment and does not pertain to thromboembolic risk. Hence, a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 3 or