NCDR-LAAO Mortality Score: Explanation and Clinical Context
The National Cardiovascular Data Registry–Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion (NCDR-LAAO) Mortality Risk Model is a validated predictive tool designed to estimate the likelihood of in-hospital mortality following percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) procedures.
Developed from the comprehensive NCDR LAAO Registry in the United States, which included over 38,000 procedures, this model incorporates key clinical variables such as age, renal function, comorbidities (heart failure, peripheral artery disease, prior stroke, chronic lung disease), dialysis dependence, BMI, and procedural urgency.
Each factor contributes independently to procedural mortality risk. For example, advanced age, renal impairment, and dialysis significantly increase risk, whereas higher BMI (the "obesity paradox") correlates with slightly lower mortality risk. The model provides individualized risk estimates to aid shared decision-making, informed consent, and procedural planning for patients undergoing Watchman or similar LAAO devices.
This calculator implements the original logistic regression equation from the NCDR-LAAO study (Amin et al., 2019) for maximal fidelity to the published model.
Reference:
Amin AP, et al. Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality After Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion: Insights From the NCDR LAAO Registry.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019;73(25):3178–3189. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2019.04.031