According to information from a recent study, the newer CHA2DS2-VASc score might be better at assessing the stroke risks in AF patients than the older CHADS2. This is particularly true in patients who have a lower stroke risk than others.

The lead author of the study, Dr. Jonas Bjerring Oleson of the Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, Hellerup, Denmark, has said that while AF patients who are at high risk of having a stroke need anticoagulation (through medications like Multaq), the conflict arises when trying to define the low risk patients who don’t need anticoagulation because the guidelines are different for each country.

In the United States, the guidelines see the low risk group as those patients who have a score of zero on the CHADS2 scale. In Europe, however, the newer CHA2DS2-VASc score is being used to define low-risk patients. This causes more subdivides than the CHADS2 zero score when it comes to the many risk categories. Oleson has also stated that “a CHADS2 score of zero included CHA2DS2-VASc scores of zero to 3 and that a CHADS2 score of 1 included CHA2DS2-VASc scores of 1 to 4.”

What this information shows is that the newer CHA2DS2-VASc score is more in-depth than the older CHADS score, which may make it more reliable in terms of stroke risks for AF patients. This is significant because medications like Multaq, Warfarin and Rivaroxaban are used as an anticoagulant medication to ward off strokes. Multaq has long been linked to various side effects including liver failure and a worsening of the heart condition. Multaq is made by Sanofi-Aventis. Some deaths even occurred during one PALLAS study that forced a PALLAS clinical trial to be halted. The PALLAS study was meant to see if Multaq could be used as a treatment for permanent AF.

If you or a loved one has suffered from liver failure or a worsening heart condition after being treated with Multaq, contact the attorney’s at Greg Jones today for a free consultation. I am experienced at fighting Multaq lawsuits and may be able to help you recover money for your injuries.