Incidence and prognostic impact of post discharge bleeding post acute coronary syndrome within an outpatient setting: a systematic review

Cost-effectiveness of implementing a genotype-guided de-escalation strategy in patients with acute coronary syndrome

AIMS

A genotype-guided P2Y12-inhibitor de-escalation strategy, switching acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients without a CYP2C19 loss-of-function allele from ticagrelor or prasugrel to clopidogrel, has shown to reduce bleeding risk without affecting the effectivity of therapy by increasing ischaemic risk. We estimated the cost-effectiveness of this personalized approach compared to standard dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT; aspirin plus ticagrelor/prasugrel) in the Netherlands.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We developed a 1-year decision tree based on results of the FORCE-ACS registry, comparing a cohort of ACS patients who underwent genotyping with a cohort of ACS patients treated with standard DAPT. This was followed by a lifelong Markov model to compare lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) for a fictional cohort of 1000 patients. The cost-effectiveness analysis was performed from the perspective of the Dutch healthcare system. A genotype-guided de-escalation strategy led to an increase of 57.73 QALYs and saved €808788 compared to standard DAPT based on a lifetime horizon. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that the genotype-guided strategy was cost-saving in 96% and increased QALYs in 87% of simulations. The intervention remained cost-effective in the scenario where prices for all P2Y12 inhibitors were equalized. The genotype-guided strategy remained dominant in various other scenarios and sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSION

A genotype-guided de-escalation strategy in patients with ACS was both cost-saving and yielded higher QALYs compared to standard DAPT, highlighting its potential for implementation in clinical practice. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03823547.

Association of Prognostic Nutritional Index with Post-Discharge Bleeding After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in ACS Patients on DAPT

Purpose

Malnutrition increases bleeding risk by reducing thrombogenicity, impairing platelet aggregation, prolonging bleeding time, and promoting systemic inflammation, which affects vascular permeability and angiogenesis. The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), calculated from serum albumin and lymphocyte count, reflects both nutritional and inflammatory status. This study aimed to assess PNI's association with bleeding risk in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients on dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT).

Patients and Methods

This prospective, single-center observational cohort study enrolled 1843 patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). ROC analysis determined 42.7 as the optimal PNI cut-off value for risk stratification. Participants were stratified into distinct groups based on Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) cut-off values, a composite marker derived from serum albumin levels and peripheral lymphocyte counts, reflecting both nutritional and inflammatory status. Patients were prospectively followed for 12 months post-discharge to assess the occurrence of actionable bleeding events, with the aim of evaluating the association between PNI and post-PCI bleeding risk.

Results

The study cohort had a mean age of 66.4, with 65.16% male. After PCI, 98.04% were on DAPT. Patients were divided into Group I (PNI ≥ 42.7, n = 1290) and Group II (PNI < 42.7, n = 553). During follow-up, 5.58% of patients experienced actionable bleeding, with 3.5% in Group I and 10.3% in Group II (p < 0.0001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that PNI < 42.7 was a significant independent predictor of bleeding (HR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.1-2.5; p < 0.003).

Conclusion

Baseline PNI is an independent predictor of post-discharge bleeding in ACS patients on DAPT after PCI, suggesting it could be a valuable tool for risk stratification of bleeding in these patients.

Accurate prediction of bleeding risk after coronary artery bypass grafting with dual antiplatelet therapy: A machine learning model vs. the PRECISE-DAPT score

BACKGROUND

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), although might be protective for ischemic events, can lead to varying degrees of bleeding, resulting in serious clinical events, including death. This study aims to develop accurate and scalable predictive tools for early identification of bleeding risks during the DAPT period post-CABG, comparing them with the PRECISE-DAPT score.

METHODS

Clinical data were collected from patients who underwent isolated CABG at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between June 2021 and December 2023. The dataset was split into derivation and validation cohorts at a 7:3 ratio. Machine learning models were developed to predict bleeding within six months post-CABG in DAPT patients and tested in a temporal external validation cohort. The SHapley Additive exPlanations method visualized variable importance regarding outcomes. The performance of the PRECISE-DAPT score was also validated in this cohort.

RESULTS

Among 561 enrolled patients, 165 (29.4 %) experienced bleeding events, with 49 (8.7 %) cases being significant. In the validation cohort, eXtreme gradient boosting (XGB) achieved the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.915) and precision-recall curve (0.692). Compared to PRECISE-DAPT, XGB showed no difference in AUROC (p = 0.808) but had a higher AUPRC (p = 0.009). In the temporal external validation cohort, the XGB model has an AUROC of 0.926 and an AUPRC of 0.703. We developed a dynamic high-accuracy bleeding risk calculator based on the XGB model and created a mobile-friendly QR code for easy access to this tool.

CONCLUSION

Bleeding risk during DAPT in post-CABG patients can be reliably predicted using selected baseline features. The XGB model outperforms the Precise-Dapt model, showing better precision and recall.

Transfusion and clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention

We investigated the long-term patterns and effects of transfusion on the clinical outcome of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using a nationwide registry. Five-year clinical outcome of all Koreans undergoing PCI using stent in year 2011 (n = 48,786) was investigated. Primary outcome was the incidence density of transfusion. The association of transfusion with major adverse clinical event (MACE) consisting all-cause death, revascularization, critically ill cardiovascular status, or stroke was assessed after adjusting the propensity of each patient for transfusion. The 5-year incidence density of transfusion was 4.74 (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.70-4.79) per 100 person-year. Patients who received transfusion were older and had higher frequency of clinical risk factors (p < 0.001, all). Transfusion was associated with MACE (hazard ratio [HR] 3.2, 95% CI 3.2-3.3, p < 0.001) and all other clinical events (HR 1.5-6.9, p < 0.001, all). The period of transfusion coincided with the period of highest MACE incidence density. Subgroup analyses showed consistent results. Within 5 years after PCI, a total of 22.9% of patients received transfusion and had a 3.2-fold higher risk of MACE compared to patients without transfusion.

De-escalation or abbreviation of dual antiplatelet therapy in acute coronary syndromes and percutaneous coronary intervention: a Consensus Statement from an international expert panel on coronary thrombosis

Conventional dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention comprises aspirin with a potent P2Y purinoceptor 12 (P2Y12) inhibitor (prasugrel or ticagrelor) for 12 months. Although this approach reduces ischaemic risk, patients are exposed to a substantial risk of bleeding. Strategies to reduce bleeding include de-escalation of DAPT intensity (downgrading from potent P2Y12 inhibitor at conventional doses to either clopidogrel or reduced-dose prasugrel) or abbreviation of DAPT duration. Either strategy requires assessment of the ischaemic and bleeding risks of each individual. De-escalation of DAPT intensity can reduce bleeding without increasing ischaemic events and can be guided by platelet function testing or genotyping. Abbreviation of DAPT duration after 1-6 months, followed by monotherapy with aspirin or a P2Y12 inhibitor, reduces bleeding without an increase in ischaemic events in patients at high bleeding risk, particularly those without high ischaemic risk. However, these two strategies have not yet been compared in a head-to-head clinical trial. In this Consensus Statement, we summarize the evidence base for these treatment approaches, provide guidance on the assessment of ischaemic and bleeding risks, and provide consensus statements from an international panel of experts to help clinicians to optimize these DAPT approaches for individual patients to improve outcomes.

Less bleeding by omitting aspirin in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome patients: Rationale and design of the LEGACY study

BACKGROUND

Early aspirin withdrawal, also known as P2Y12-inhibitor monotherapy, following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) can reduce bleeding without a trade-off in efficacy. Still the average daily bleeding risk is highest during the first months and it remains unclear if aspirin can be omitted immediately following PCI.

METHODS

The LEGACY study is an open-label, multicenter randomized controlled trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of immediate P2Y12-inhibitor monotherapy versus dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for 12 months in 3,090 patients. Patients are randomized immediately following successful PCI for NSTE-ACS to 75-100 mg aspirin once daily versus no aspirin. The primary hypothesis is that immediately omitting aspirin is superior to DAPT with respect to major or minor bleeding defined as Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 2, 3, or 5 bleeding, while maintaining noninferiority for the composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction and stroke compared to DAPT.

CONCLUSIONS

The LEGACY study is the first randomized study that is specifically designed to evaluate the impact of immediately omitting aspirin, and thus treating patients with P2Y12-inhibitor monotherapy, as compared to DAPT for 12 months on bleeding and ischemic events within 12 months following PCI for NSTE-ACS.

Impact of Coexisting Risk Factors on Outcomes in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Real-World Analysis Using the Taiwan Chang Gung Research Database

BACKGROUND Diabetes mellitus (DM), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and advanced age are associated with poor outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This real-world study utilized data from the Taiwan Chang Gung Research Database (CGRD) to compare outcomes in ACS patients with DM, CKD, and the elderly. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study enrolled 28,613 ACS patients diagnosed based on CGRD medical records between January 2005 and December 2019. Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared among groups based on patient characteristics. RESULTS Within the ACS cohort, 42.1% had DM, 48.2% had CKD, and 33.6% were elderly. Among them, 10.7% (3,070) were elderly patients with both DM and CKD. Elderly patients with DM and CKD had significantly higher risks of gastrointestinal bleeding (hazard ratio=11.32), cardiovascular events (HR=7.29), and all-cause mortality (HR=8.59). Patients with three or at least two of these risk factors had a 2.20-2.99-fold increased risk of recurrent ACS during the three-year follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS Patients with the combination of DM, CKD, and advanced age (elderly) experienced an 11.32-fold increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, 7.29-fold increased risk of cardiovascular events, and 8.59-fold increased risk of all-cause mortality compared to those without these risk factors. Furthermore, patients with two or more of these risk factors had a 2- to 3-fold increased risk of recurrent ACS. These findings emphasize the importance of managing multiple risk factors in ACS patients to improve outcomes.

Impact of recurrent ischaemic and bleeding events on quality of life in patients with acute coronary syndrome: Insights from the FORCE-ACS registry

OBJECTIVE

Patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remain at high risk for recurrent ischaemic and bleeding events during follow-up. Our study aimed to quantify and compare the impact of these adverse events on quality of life (QoL).

METHODS

Data from patients with ACS prospectively enrolled in the FORCE-ACS registry between January 2015 and December 2019 were used for this study. The primary ischaemic and bleeding events of interest were hospital readmission for ACS and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 2 or 3 bleeding during 12 months follow-up. QoL was measured using the EQ-5D Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and the 12-item Short Form Survey version 2 derived Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Health Component Summary (MCS) scores at 12 months follow-up.

RESULTS

In total, 3339 patients (mean age 66.8 years, 27.9% women) were included. During follow-up, ischaemic events occurred in 202 patients (6.0%) and bleeding events in 565 patients (16.9%). After adjustment for demographic and clinical characteristics, ischaemic events remained independently associated with lower QoL regardless of metric used. Bleeding was also independently associated with lower EQ-5D VAS and PCS scores, but not with a lower MCS score. The QoL decrement associated with ischaemic events was numerically larger than the decrement associated with bleeding.

CONCLUSIONS

Ischaemic and bleeding events remain prevalent and are independently associated with lower QoL at 12 months follow-up in patients previously admitted for ACS. The incidence and impact of these adverse events should be considered when balancing individual ischaemic and bleeding risks.

Single antiplatelet therapy directly after percutaneous coronary intervention in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome patients: the OPTICA study

BACKGROUND

Early P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy has emerged as a promising alternative to 12 months of dual antiplatelet therapy following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

AIMS

In this single-arm pilot study, we evaluated the feasibility and safety of ticagrelor or prasugrel monotherapy directly following PCI in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS).

METHODS

Patients received a loading dose of ticagrelor or prasugrel before undergoing platelet function testing and subsequent PCI using new-generation drug-eluting stents. The stent result was adjudicated with optical coherence tomography in the first 35 patients. Ticagrelor or prasugrel monotherapy was continued for 12 months. The primary ischaemic endpoint was the composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, definite or probable stent thrombosis or stroke within 6 months. The primary bleeding endpoint was Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 2, 3 or 5 bleeding within 6 months.

RESULTS

From March 2021 to March 2022, 125 patients were enrolled, of whom 75 ultimately met all in- and exclusion criteria (mean age 64.5 years, 29.3% women). Overall, 70 out of 75 (93.3%) patients were treated with ticagrelor or prasugrel monotherapy directly following PCI. The primary ischaemic endpoint occurred in 3 (4.0%) patients within 6 months. No cases of stent thrombosis or spontaneous myocardial infarction occurred. The primary bleeding endpoint occurred in 7 (9.3%) patients within 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides first-in-human evidence that P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy directly following PCI for NSTE-ACS is feasible, without any overt safety concerns, and highlights the need for randomised controlled trials comparing direct P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy with the current standard of care.

Real-world bleeding in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and prescribed different combinations of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in England: a population-based cohort study emulating a 'target trial'

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the incidence and HRs for bleeding for different dual antiplatelet therapies (DAPT) in a real-world population with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in England.

DESIGN

A retrospective, population-based cohort study emulating a target randomised controlled trial (tRCT).

DATA SOURCES

Linked Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) and Hospital Episode Statistics (HES).

SETTING

Primary and secondary care.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients ≥18 years old with ACS undergoing emergency PCI.

INTERVENTIONS

Aspirin and clopidogrel (AC, reference) versus aspirin and prasugrel (AP) or aspirin and ticagrelor (AT); AP evaluated only in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary: any bleeding up to 12 months after the index event (HES- or CPRD- recorded). Secondary: HES-recorded bleeding, CPRD-recorded bleeding, all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, mortality from bleeding, myocardial infarction, stroke, additional coronary intervention and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE).

RESULTS

In ACS, the rates of any bleeding for AC and AT were 89 per 1000 person years and 134 per 1000 person years, respectively. In STEMI, rates for AC, AP and AT were 93 per 1000 person years, 138 per 1000 person years and 143 per 100 person years, respectively. In ACS, compared with AC, AT increased the hazard of any bleeding (HR: 1.47, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.82) but did not reduce MACCE (HR: 1.06, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.27). In STEMI, compared with AC, AP and AT increased the hazard of any bleeding (HR: 1.77, 95% CI 1.21 to 2.59 and HR: 1.50, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.05, respectively) but did not reduce MACCE (HR: 1.10, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.51 and HR: 1.21, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.51, respectively). Non-adherence to the prescribed DAPT regimen was 28% in AC (29% in STEMI only), 31% in AP (STEMI only) and 33% in AT (32% in STEMI only).

CONCLUSIONS

In a real-world population with ACS, DAPT with ticagrelor or prasugrel are associated with increased bleeding compared with DAPT with clopidogrel.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ISRCTN76607611.

Cost-effectiveness of clopidogrel vs. ticagrelor in patients of 70 years or older with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome

OBJECTIVE

The POPular AGE trial showed that clopidogrel significantly reduced bleeding risk compared with ticagrelor without any signs of an increase in thrombotic events. The aim of this analysis was to estimate the long-term cost-effectiveness of clopidogrel compared with ticagrelor in these patients aged 70 years or older with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS).

METHODS AND RESULTS

A 1-year decision tree based on the POPular AGE trial in combination with a lifelong Markov model was developed to compare clopidogrel with ticagrelor in terms of clinical outcomes, costs, and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) in elderly patients (above 70 year) with NSTE-ACS. Cost-effectiveness was assessed from a Dutch healthcare system perspective. Events rates and utility data observed in the POPular AGE trial were combined with lifetime projections to evaluate costs and effects for a fictional cohort of 1000 patients. Treatment with clopidogrel instead of ticagrelor led to a cost saving of €1484 575 (€1485 per patient) and a decrease of 10.96 QALYs (0.011 QALY per patient) in the fictional cohort. In an alternative base case with equal distribution over health states in the first year, treatment with clopidogrel led to an increase in QALYs. In all scenario analyses, treatment with clopidogrel was cost-saving.

CONCLUSION

Clopidogrel is a cost-saving alternative to ticagrelor in elderly patients after NSTE-ACS, though regarding overall cost-effectiveness clopidogrel was not superior to ticagrelor, as it resulted in a small negative effect on QALYs. However, based on the results of the alternative base case and clinical outcomes of the POPular AGE trial, clopidogrel could be a reasonable alternative to ticagrelor for elderly NSTE-ACS patients with a higher bleeding risk.

Incidence and predictors of serious bleeding during long-term follow-up after acute coronary syndrome in a population-based cohort study

Progress in decreasing ischemic complications in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has come at the expense of increased bleeding risk. We estimated the long-term, post-discharge incidence of serious bleeding, characterized bleeding type, and identified predictors of bleeding and its impact on mortality in an unselected cohort of patients with ACS. In this population-based study, we included 1379 patients identified with an ACS, 2010–2014. Serious bleeding was defined as intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), bleeding requiring hospital admission, or bleeding requiring transfusion or surgery. During a median 4.6-year follow-up, 85 patients had ≥ 1 serious bleed (cumulative incidence, 8.6%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 8.3–8.9). A subgroup of 557 patients, aged ≥ 75 years had a higher incidence (13.4%) than younger patients (6.0%). The most common bleeding site was gastrointestinal (51%), followed by ICH (27%). Sixteen percent had a recurrence. Risk factors for serious bleeding were age ≥ 75 years, lower baseline hemoglobin (Hb) value, previous hypertension or heart failure. Serious bleeding was associated with increased mortality. Bleeding after ACS was fairly frequent and the most common bleeding site was gastrointestinal. Older age, lower baseline Hb value, hypertension and heart failure predicted bleeding. Bleeding did independently predict mortality.

Predictive value of the age, creatinine and ejection fraction score in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention with bail-out tirofiban therapy

INTRODUCTION

In patients who have undergone interventional cardiac procedures, the risk of bleeding is higher than in patients who received conservative treatment due to multiple medications and comorbidities.

AIM

This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of the age, creatinine and ejection fraction (ACEF) score for predicting bleeding events and to compare short- and long-term clinical outcomes according to the ACEF score in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) with bail-out tirofiban therapy (BOTT).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 2,543 patients were included and divided into three groups according to the following ACEF score tertiles: T1 (ACEFlow ≤ 1.033), T2 (1.033 < ACEFmid ≤ 1.371), and T3 (ACEFhigh > 1.371). The main outcomes measured were the incidence rates of relevant bleeding events and mortality within 30 days and 3 years after the procedure.

RESULTS

A total of 73 (2.9%) patients had Bleeding Academic Research Consortium bleeding events of grades 3, 4 or 5 and 104 (4%) patients died in a 30-day period. The ACEF score was effective at predicting 30-day bleeding (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC): 0.658, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.579-0.737; p < 0.001), 30-day mortality (AUC = 0.701, 95% CI: 0.649-0.753; p < 0.001) and 3-year mortality (AUC = 0.778, 95% CI: 0.748-0.807; p < 0.001) events. Considering the ACEF score tertiles, T3 patients presented greater 30-day bleeding (1.6%, 2.8% and 4.1%; odds ratio (OR) = 2.56, 95% CI: 1.37-4.80), 30-day mortality (1.7%, 3.5% and 7.1%; OR = 4.53, 95% CI: 2.51-8.18) and 3-year mortality (6.4%, 11% and 19.8%; hazard ratio = 3.56, 95% CI: 2.58-4.91) risks.

CONCLUSIONS

The ACEF score is a user-friendly tool with excellent predictive value for bleeding events and mortality in patients undergoing pPCI with BOTT.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Acute Coronary Syndromes: From Pathogenesis to the Fine Line Between Bleeding and Ischemic Risk

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a pathological condition that first involves the gastrointestinal wall but can also trigger a systemic inflammatory state and thus extraintestinal manifestations. Systemic inflammation is probably secondary to the passage of bacterial products into the bloodstream because of altered intestinal permeability and the consequent release of proinflammatory mediators. Inflammation, through several diverse pathophysiological pathways, determines both a procoagulative state and systemic endothelial dysfunction, which are both deemed to be responsible for venous and arterial thromboembolic adverse events. The management of systemic thrombotic complications is particularly challenging in this category of patients, who also present a high bleeding risk; what is more, both bleeding and thrombotic risks peak during the active phases of the disease. The literature suggests that treating physicians have been, so far, more heavily influenced by concerns about bleeding than by the thrombotic risk. Despite the absence of data provided by large cohorts or randomized studies, the high risk of arterial and venous atherothrombosis in patients with IBD seems unquestionable. Moreover, several reports suggest that when arterial thromboembolism involves the coronary vessels, causing acute coronary syndromes, ischemic complications from antithrombotic drug undertreatment are frequent and severe. This review aims to shed light on the tricky balance between the ischemic and hemorrhagic risks of patients with IBD and to highlight how difficult it is for clinicians to define a tailored therapy based on a case-by-case, careful, and unprejudiced clinical evaluation.

Long-term antiplatelet therapy in medically managed non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes: The EPICOR Asia study

OBJECTIVES

To describe long-term antithrombotic management patterns (AMPs) in medically managed Asian patients with non-ST-segment myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) or unstable angina (UA).

BACKGROUND

Current guidelines support an early invasive strategy in NSTEMI and UA patients, but many are medically managed, and data are limited on long-term AMPs in Asia.

METHODS

Data were analyzed from medically managed NSTEMI and UA patients included in the prospective, observational EPICOR Asia study (NCT01361386). Survivors to hospital discharge were enrolled (June 2011 to May 2012) from 8 countries/regions across Asia. Baseline characteristics and AMP use up to 2 years post-discharge were collected. Outcomes were major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE: myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and death) and bleeding.

RESULTS

Among 2289 medically managed patients, dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) use at discharge was greater in NSTEMI than in UA patients (81.8% vs 65.3%), and was significantly associated with male sex, positive cardiac markers, and prior cardiovascular medications (p < 0.0001). By 2 years, 57.9% and 42.6% of NSTEMI and UA patients, respectively, were on DAPT. On multivariable Cox regression analysis, risk of MACE at 2 years was most significantly associated with older age (HR [95% CI] 1.85 [1.36, 2.50]), diagnosis of NSTEMI vs UA (1.96 [1.47, 2.61]), and chronic renal failure (2.14 [1.34, 3.41]), all p ≤ 0.001. Risk of bleeding was most significantly associated with region (East Asia vs Southeast/South Asia) and diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately half of all patients were on DAPT at 2 years. MACE were more frequent in NSTEMI than UA patients during follow-up.

Prescription Rates for Antiplatelet Therapy (APT) in Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) - What Benchmark are We Aiming at in Continuing Medical Education (CME)?

Physicians always aim to improve their patients' health. CME should be designed not only to provide knowledge transfer, but also to influence clinical decision-making and to close performance gaps. In aretrospective study we analysed prescription rates for APT in 254,932 CAD patients (male: 64.4%), treated in atotal of 3,405 practices in 2019 in aDMP in the region of North Rhine, Germany. Analyses were run for the whole study population stratified by sex as well as for subgroups of patients suffering from myocardial infarction/acute coronary syndrome, or who have been treated with percutaneous coronary intervention or bypass surgery. Patients mean age was 72.7 ± 11.2 years (mean ± 1SD), mean duration of DMP participation was 7.2 ± 4.7 years, and mean cumulative number of DMP visits was 27 ± 17. APT prescription rates were 85.0% in male and 78.8% in female CAD patients. In subgroups of male CAD patients APT prescription rates were between 89.7% and 92.8%, in the same subgroups of female CAD patients the corresponding rates were between 87.8% and 92.0%. Rates for amissing APT prescription per practice were between .0044% and .0062% for male and female CAD patients, respectively. Rates for amissing APT prescription per practice and DMP visit were .0002% for both sexes. These results suggest that a DMP can achieve high attainment rates for APT in CAD. To further improve attainment rates, consideration of absolute numbers of eligible patients per practice or physician is probably more appropriate than expression of performance as percentage values. This is especially true if attainment rates show substantial variations between subgroups, if subgroups show substantial variation in size, if attainment rates are already in the magnitude of 80% or higher, and if there are disparities in the evidence base underlying treatment recommendations related to subgroups.

Bleeding After Hospital Discharge Following Acute Coronary Syndrome: Incidence, Types, Timing, and Predictors

Background

The incidence and predictors of bleeding after acute coronary syndrome are unclear within the real‐world setting. Our objective was to determine the incidence, types, timing, and predictors of bleeding complications following hospital discharge after acute coronary syndrome.

Methods and Results

We used the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, with linkage to Hospital Episode Statistics, to determine the incidence, timing, and types of bleeding events within 12 months after hospital discharge for acute coronary syndrome. We assessed independent associations between postdischarge bleeding and baseline patient characteristics using a competing risk regression model, accounting for death as a competing event. Among 27 660 patients surviving to hospital discharge, 3620 (13%) experienced bleeding complications at a median time of 123 days (interquartile range, 45–223 days) after discharge. The incidence of bleeding was 162/1000 person‐years (95% CI, 157–167/1000 person‐years) within the first 12 months after hospital discharge. Bruising (949 bleeds [26%]) was the most common type of first bleeding event, followed by gastrointestinal bleed (705 bleeds [20%]), whereas intracranial bleed was relatively rare (81 bleeds [2%]). Significant predictors of postdischarge bleeding included history of bleeding complication, oral anticoagulant prescription, history of peripheral vascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and advanced age (>80 years). Predictors for postdischarge bleeding varied, depending on the anatomic site of the bleeding event.

Conclusions

Bleeding complications after hospital discharge for acute coronary syndrome are common. Patients who experience these bleeding events have distinct baseline characteristics, which vary by anatomic site of the bleed. These characteristics can inform risk‐benefit considerations in deciding on favorable combination and duration of secondary antithrombotic therapy.