ATRIA Bleeding Score: Explanation and Clinical Context The ATRIA Bleeding Score (Anticoagulation and Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation) is a validated risk stratification tool designed to estimate the annual risk of major bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) receiving oral anticoagulant therapy.
Developed from a cohort of over 13,000 AF patients in the ATRIA study, it incorporates five independent predictors: anemia, severe renal disease, age >75 years, prior bleeding, and hypertension. Each variable contributes a weighted point value based on its independent association with major bleeding events during warfarin therapy.
The ATRIA model provides good discrimination (C-statistic 0.74) and calibration for predicting major hemorrhage, with particular strength in identifying patients with renal dysfunction and anemia—two high-impact determinants of bleeding risk. It has been validated in subsequent cohorts including those on direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs).
Clinically, the ATRIA score aids in tailoring anticoagulation therapy, guiding intensity of follow-up, and prompting interventions such as optimization of blood pressure, correction of anemia, and renal protection strategies.
Reference:
Fang MC, et al. “A New Risk Scheme to Predict Warfarin-Associated Hemorrhage: The ATRIA (Anticoagulation and Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation) Study.” J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011;58(4):395–401.
O’Brien EC, et al. “Validation of the ATRIA Bleeding Risk Score in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.” Am Heart J. 2015;170(3):564–572.
Lip GYH. “Comparative performance of bleeding risk scores in AF: HAS-BLED, ATRIA, and ORBIT.” Eur Heart J. 2016;37(47):3290–3300.