Short- versus standard-term dual antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stent implantation: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Twelve months of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is recommended after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. However, certain clinical scenarios may require premature discontinuation of therapy (e.g. urgent surgical procedure, major bleeding). The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate clinically relevant outcomes associated with a shorter duration of DAPT after PCI with DES implantation.

METHODS: A systematic search of Medline and Embase (inception to December 2015) was conducted. Included were randomized controlled trials that compared 6 months (or less) of DAPT (defined as acetylsalicylic acid 75-200mg daily and a P2Y12 inhibitor) to the standard of 12 months. Outcomes of interest included death (all-cause and cardiac), myocardial infarction (MI), definite/probable stent thrombosis, and bleeding (major and overall). An odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for each outcome using a random effects model.

RESULTS: Six trials (five open-label, one double-blind) were included (N=13,900). Four studies investigated 6 months of DAPT, and two studies investigated 3 months. Median follow-up was 12 months. There was no statistically significantly difference between groups regarding all-cause death (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.64-1.20), cardiac death (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.64-1.55), MI (OR 1.16, 95% CI 0.87-1.56), and stent thrombosis (OR 1.22, 95% CI 0.70-2.15). Both major and any bleeding were significantly decreased with shorter-term DAPT (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.34-0.98, and OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.47-0.81, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: Shorter duration (3-6 months) of DAPT, as compared to 12 months, was not associated with a higher risk of death, MI, or stent thrombosis, but a lower rate of major and overall bleeding.