Infectious complications in patients receiving ticagrelor or clopidogrel before coronary artery bypass grafting

Ticagrelor and the risk of infections during hospitalization in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Although ticagrelor exerts an antibacterial activity, its effect on infections in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is unclear. We aimed to assess whether ticagrelor and clopidogrel affect infections in these patients during hospitalization.

METHODS

A total of 2116 consecutive patients with STEMI undergoing PCI were divided into the ticagrelor (n = 388) and clopidogrel (n = 1728) groups. The primary outcome was infection onset. Secondary outcomes were in-hospital all-cause death and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). Propensity score analyses were conducted to test the robustness of the results.

RESULTS

Infections developed in 327 (15.4%) patients. There was no significant difference in infection between both groups (ticagrelor vs. clopidogrel: 13.1% vs. 16.0%, p = 0.164). Patients in the ticagrelor group had lower rates of in-hospital all-cause death and MACCE than patients in the clopidogrel group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis determined that ticagrelor and clopidogrel had a similar preventive effect on infections during hospitalization (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.80-1.78, p = 0.380). Compared to the patients treated with clopidogrel, patients treated with ticagrelor had a slightly lower risk of other outcomes, but no statistical difference. Propensity score analyses demonstrated similar results for infections and other outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with clopidogrel treatment, ticagrelor treatment did not significantly alter the risk of infections during hospitalization among STEMI patients undergoing PCI, but was associated with a slightly lower risk of in-hospital all-cause death and MACCE.