Objective
The Hypertension, Abnormal renal/liver function, Stroke, Bleeding history or predisposition, Labile international normalized ratio, Elderly, Drugs/alcohol (HAS-BLED) score has been developed to predict the risk of potential bleeding in anticoagulated patients affected by atrial fibrillation. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the HAS-BLED score is associated with major bleeding also in patients after cardiac surgery.
Design
Prospective, single-center nonrandomized study.
Setting
Single hospital center.
Interventions
Standard cardiac operation and analysis of major bleeding events. A total of 1,173 consecutive adult patients who underwent cardiac surgery were recruited. Major bleeding was defined according to the Bleeding Academy Research Consortium classification (3, 4, 5). Bleeding events were classified as early bleeding (within 48 hours after the operation) and late bleeding (after 48 hours and within 90 days, postoperatively). Patients were followed after the discharge for 120 days, through outpatient clinic visits and by phone calls.