This Figure compares the risk factors and scoring for CHADS₂ vs CHA₂DS₂-VASc [46] In the lower left the increase in annual risk is shown for the 2 scoring systems, and it can be seen that the level of overall risk is lower with each point in CHA₂DS₂-VASc than with CHADS₂, and the rate of increase in risk is smaller with each additional point in the scoring.  Nevertheless, the risk for stroke increases significantly with additional risk factors, and physicians should pay as much attention to the rate of increase in risk as to the absolute level in individual patients.

 Reiffel JA. Am J Med 2013; 126: 00-00.