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Health Technology Assessment... Jul 2013Previous research suggests uncertainty whether or not there is any additional benefit in adding antiplatelet therapy (APT) to anticoagulation therapy (ACT) in patients... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Previous research suggests uncertainty whether or not there is any additional benefit in adding antiplatelet therapy (APT) to anticoagulation therapy (ACT) in patients with high-risk atrial fibrillation (AF) in terms of reduction in vascular events, including stroke. The existing guidelines acknowledge an increased risk of bleeding associated with such a strategy; however, there is no consensus on the treatment pathway.
OBJECTIVES
To determine, by undertaking a systematic review, if the addition of APT to ACT is beneficial compared with ACT alone in patients with AF who are considered to be at high risk of thromboembolic events (TEs).
DATA SOURCES
Data sources included bibliographic databases {the Cochrane Library [Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL)], MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-Process and Other Non-Indexed Citations, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov, National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network Portfolio, Current Controlled Trials (CCT) and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO ICTRP)}, reference lists from identified systematic reviews and relevant studies, and contact with clinical experts. Searches were from inception to September 2010 and did not use language restrictions or study design filters.
REVIEW METHODS
Studies of any design were included to evaluate clinical effectiveness, including randomised controlled trials (RCTs), non-randomised comparisons, cohort studies, case series or registries, longitudinal studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and conference abstracts published after 2008. Inclusion criteria consisted of a population with AF, at high-risk of TEs, aged ≥ 18 years, on combined ACT and APT compared with others on ACT alone or ACT plus placebo. Inclusion decisions, assessment of study quality and data extraction were undertaken using methods to minimise bias.
RESULTS
Fifty-three publications were included, reporting five RCTs (11 publications), 18 non-randomised comparisons (24 publications) and 18 publications that reported reviews, which added no further data. There was variation in the population, types and doses of ACT and APT, definitions of outcomes, and length of follow-up between the studies. There was a paucity of directly randomised high-quality RCTs, whereas non-randomised comparisons were found to have significant confounding factors. No studies looked at the effect of ACT plus APT compared with ACT alone on vascular events in patients with AF following acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or percutaneous coronary intervention. In most studies, significant differences in event rates were not seen between the patients on combined therapy compared with those on ACT alone for outcomes such as stroke (including haemorrhagic and ischaemic strokes), rates of transient ischaemic attacks, composite end points of stroke and systemic embolism (SE), SE alone, acute myocardial infarction, mortality (vascular or all cause) or bleeding events. There was conflicting evidence regarding rates of major adverse events consisting of composite end points, although event rates were generally low.
LIMITATIONS
An attempt was made to identify all of the available evidence around the subject despite the dearth of directly randomised studies using a robust review methodology. There was a paucity of directly randomised evidence to undertake a meta-analysis for the merits of one technology over another. The selection criteria were kept necessarily broad with regard to the population, intervention and comparator in order to capture all relevant studies.
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review suggests that there is still insufficient evidence to advocate a clear benefit of the addition of APT to ACT compared with ACT alone in reducing the risk of vascular events in a population of patients at high risk of TEs resulting from AF. It is recommended that a definitive prospective RCT needs to be undertaken in a population at high risk of atherosclerotic coronary artery and other vascular events in addition to being at high risk of AF-mediated TEs. From the UK context, at the time of writing, any future trial should compare adjusted-dose warfarin [international normalised ratio (INR) 2.0-3.0] plus aspirin (75-325 mg) with adjusted-dose warfarin (INR 2.0-3.0). However, given the emergence of newer anticoagulation agents (dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban) this prioritisation may need to be revisited in the future to reflect current best clinical practice.
FUNDING
The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme.
Topics: Anticoagulants; Aspirin; Atrial Fibrillation; Drug Therapy, Combination; Hemorrhage; Humans; Ischemic Attack, Transient; Myocardial Infarction; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Risk; Stroke; Thromboembolism
PubMed: 23880057
DOI: 10.3310/hta17300 -
Interactive Cardiovascular and Thoracic... Sep 2020Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) monotherapy is the standard of care after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), but the benefits of more intense antiplatelet therapy,...
OBJECTIVES
Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) monotherapy is the standard of care after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), but the benefits of more intense antiplatelet therapy, specifically dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), require further exploration in CABG patients. We performed a network meta-analysis to compare the effects of various antiplatelet regimens on saphenous vein graft patency, mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events and bleeding among CABG patients.
METHODS
We searched Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval Systems Online, Excerpta Medica Database, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, American College of Physicians Journal Club and conference proceedings for randomized controlled trials. Screening, data extraction, risk of bias assessment and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation were performed in duplicate. We conducted a random effect Bayesian network meta-analysis including both direct and indirect comparisons.
RESULTS
We included 43 randomized controlled trials studying 15 511 patients. DAPT with low-dose ASA and ticagrelor [odds ratio (OR) 2.53, 95% credible interval (CrI) 1.35-4.72; I2 = 55; low certainty] or clopidogrel (OR 1.56, 95% CrI 1.02-2.39; I2 = 55; very low certainty) improved saphenous vein graft patency when compared to low-dose ASA monotherapy. DAPT with low-dose ASA and ticagrelor was associated with lower mortality (OR 0.52, 95% CrI 0.30-0.87; I2 = 14; high certainty) and lower major adverse cardiovascular events (OR 0.63, 95% CrI 0.44-0.91; I2 = 0; high certainty) when compared to low-dose ASA monotherapy. Based on moderate certainty evidence, DAPT was associated with an increase in major bleeding.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that DAPT improves saphenous vein graft patency, mortality and major adverse cardiovascular event. As such, surgeons and physicians should consider re-initiating DAPT for acute coronary syndrome patients after their CABG, at the expense of an increased risk for major bleeding.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION
International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews ID Number CRD42019127695.
Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Coronary Artery Bypass; Humans; Network Meta-Analysis; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
PubMed: 32772110
DOI: 10.1093/icvts/ivaa115 -
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) Feb 2001To assess the effectiveness and safety of antiplatelet drugs for prevention of pre-eclampsia and its consequences. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness and safety of antiplatelet drugs for prevention of pre-eclampsia and its consequences.
DESIGN
Systematic review.
DATA SOURCES
Register of trials maintained by Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and Embase.
INCLUDED STUDIES
Randomised trials involving women at risk of pre-eclampsia, and its complications, allocated to antiplatelet drug(s) versus placebo or no antiplatelet drug.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, fetal or neonatal death, and small for gestational age baby. Studies were assessed for quality of concealment of allocation and losses to follow up.
RESULTS
39 trials (30 563 women) were included, and 45 trials (>3000 women) excluded. Use of antiplatelet drugs was associated with a 15% reduction in the risk of pre-eclampsia (32 trials, 29 331 women; relative risk 0.85, 95% confidence interval 0.78 to 0.92; number needed to treat 100, 59 to 167). There was also an 8% reduction in the risk of preterm birth (23 trials, 28 268 women; 0.92, 0.88 to 0.97; 72, 44 to 200), and a 14% reduction in the risk of fetal or neonatal death (30 trials, 30 093 women; 0.86, 0.75 to 0.98; 250, 125 to >10 000) for women allocated antiplatelet drugs. Small for gestational age babies were reported in 25 trials (20 349 women), with no overall difference between the groups (relative risk 0.92, 0.84 to 1.01). There were no significant differences in other measures of outcome.
CONCLUSIONS
Antiplatelet drugs, largely low dose aspirin, have small to moderate benefits when used for prevention of pre-eclampsia.
Topics: Aspirin; Female; Fetal Death; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Obstetric Labor, Premature; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 11159655
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.322.7282.329 -
Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia Aug 2018Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed tumor in women worldwide, with a significant impact on morbidity and mortality. Chemotherapy and hormone therapy have... (Review)
Review
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed tumor in women worldwide, with a significant impact on morbidity and mortality. Chemotherapy and hormone therapy have significantly reduced mortality; however, the adverse effects are significant. Aspirin has been incorporated into clinical practice for over 100 years at a low cost, making it particularly attractive as a potential agent in breast cancer prevention and as an adjunct treatment to endocrine therapy in the prophylaxis of cardiovascular complications. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of aspirin in reducing the incidence of breast cancer and to evaluate the impact of its use on morbidity and mortality and reduction of cardiovascular events as adjuvant therapy during breast cancer treatment with selective estrogen receptor modulators. A systematic review was performed using the PRISMA methodology and PICO criteria, based on the MEDLINE, EMBASE and LILACS databases. The original articles of clinical trials, cohort, case-control studies and meta-analyses published from January 1998 to June 2017, were considered. Most studies showed an association between the use of selective estrogen receptor modulators and the increase in thromboembolic events. The studies suggest a protective effect of aspirin for cardiovascular events during its concomitant use with selective estrogen receptor modulators and in the prevention of breast cancer. This systematic review suggests that aspirin therapy combines the benefit of protection against cardiovascular events with the potential reduction in breast cancer risk, and that the evaluation of the benefits of the interaction of endocrine therapy with aspirin should be further investigated.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; Aspirin; Breast Neoplasms; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Humans; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
PubMed: 30183988
DOI: 10.5935/abc.20180138 -
COPD Aug 2016Previous studies clearly showed that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at high risk for cardiovascular events. Platelet activation is... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Previous studies clearly showed that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at high risk for cardiovascular events. Platelet activation is significantly heightened in these patients, probably because of a chronic inflammatory status. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether antiplatelet treatment may contribute to reduce all-cause mortality in COPD patients. To clarify this issue, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis including patients with COPD (outpatients or admitted to hospital for acute exacerbation). The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. We considered studies stratifying the study population according the administration or not of antiplatelet therapy and reporting its relationship with the primary endpoint. Overall, 5 studies including 11117 COPD patients were considered (of those 3069 patients were with acute exacerbation of COPD). IHD was present in 33% of COPD patients [95%CI 31%-35%). Antiplatelet therapy administration was common (47%, 95%CI 46%-48%), ranging from 26% to 61%. Of note, IHD was considered as confounding factor at multivariable analysis in all studies. All-cause mortality was significantly lower in COPD patients receiving antiplatelet treatment (OR 0.81; 95%CI 0.75-0.88). The data was consistent both in outpatients and in those with acute exacerbation of COPD. The pooled studies analysis showed a very low heterogeneity (I(2) : 8%). Additional analyses (meta-regression) showed that antiplatelet therapy administration was effective independently (to potential confounding factors as IHD, cardiovascular drugs and cardiovascular risk factors. In conclusion, our meta-analysis suggested that antiplatelet therapy might significantly contribute to reduce all-cause mortality in COPD patients.
Topics: Cause of Death; Humans; Mortality; Multivariate Analysis; Myocardial Ischemia; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
PubMed: 26678708
DOI: 10.3109/15412555.2015.1099620 -
BMJ Clinical Evidence Jan 2011Up to 20% of adults aged over 55 years have detectable peripheral arterial disease of the legs, but this may cause symptoms of intermittent claudication in only a small... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Up to 20% of adults aged over 55 years have detectable peripheral arterial disease of the legs, but this may cause symptoms of intermittent claudication in only a small proportion of affected people. The main risk factors are smoking and diabetes mellitus, but other risk factors for cardiovascular disease are also associated with peripheral arterial disease.
METHODS AND OUTCOMES
We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical question: What are the effects of treatments for people with chronic peripheral arterial disease? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to May 2010. Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically; please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review. We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
RESULTS
We found 70 systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions.
CONCLUSIONS
In this systematic review, we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: antiplatelet agents, bypass surgery, cilostazol, exercise, pentoxifylline, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), prostaglandins, smoking cessation, and statins.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Angioplasty; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Intermittent Claudication; Peripheral Arterial Disease; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
PubMed: 21477401
DOI: No ID Found -
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology May 2021This meta-analysis was carried out to explore if a personalized antiplatelet strategy based on genotyping is superior to conventional therapy. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
AIM
This meta-analysis was carried out to explore if a personalized antiplatelet strategy based on genotyping is superior to conventional therapy.
METHODS
PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library were searched from the inception of each database to 5 May 2020. Studies reporting endpoints in genotype-guided treatment group and conventional treatment group were included. The endpoint results were presented as the risk ratio (RR), with 95% confidence interval (CI).
RESULTS
A total of 10 561 patients from 16 studies (eight randomized controlled trials [RCT] and eight cohort studies) were included in the meta-analysis. The rates of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), stent thrombosis and myocardial infarction (MI) were significantly lower in the genotype-guided group than in the conventional treatment group (RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.44-0.73, P < .0001; RR 0.40, 95% CI 0.24-0.67, P = .0005; RR 0.45, 95% CI 0.35-0.58, P < .00001, respectively). A significant difference was found between the two groups in major bleeding (RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.55-0.98, P = .04), which was not robust after sensitivity analysis.
CONCLUSION
Genotype-guided antiplatelet treatment could decrease the risk of MACE, stent thrombosis and MI in patients with coronary artery disease or undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, without increasing the risk of bleeding over a long follow-up period. The decreased risk of efficacy outcomes was more obvious in cohort studies. Well-organized RCTs and clinical trials are required to verify the benefit of genotype-guided therapy.
Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Genotype; Humans; Myocardial Infarction; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 33140858
DOI: 10.1111/bcp.14637 -
Current Pharmaceutical Design 2016Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has undeniably earned a prestigious post in the quiver of interventional cardiologists against symptomatic severe aortic... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has undeniably earned a prestigious post in the quiver of interventional cardiologists against symptomatic severe aortic stenosis. Cerebrovascular events are listed within the most frequent complications.
METHODS
We performed a systematic search of EMBASE, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane library from inception to March 2016 for the following search terms (transcatheter AND antiplatelet) OR (transcatheter AND antithrombotic) to retrieve studies of dual antiplatelet treatment (DAPT) and single antiplatelet treatment (SAPT) in patients after TAVI to study thrombotic, hemorrhagic and cardiovascular events at 30 days post procedure. From a total of 208 records 4 studies met inclusion criteria.
RESULTS
In the included studies, 286 patients were enrolled in the DAPT group and 354 patients in the SAPT group. There was no difference in all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, stroke, and myocardial infraction 30 days post TAVI between DAPT and SAPT. However, patients in the DAPT group had a significantly increased incidence of lethal and major bleeding at 30 days of follow-up and the incidence of the combined end-point of stroke, spontaneous MI, all-cause mortality and major bleeding was significantly higher in the DAPT group in comparison to the SAPT group.
CONCLUSION
DAPT compared to SAPT in patients after TAVI increases incidence of hemorrhagic events with no benefits in terms of thrombotic events and cardiovascular mortality. However, these data must be interpreted cautiously and the choice of DAPT over SAPT must be based on an individual patient characteristic according to medical practice criteria.
Topics: Aortic Valve Stenosis; Humans; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
PubMed: 27262328
DOI: 10.2174/1381612822666160601110716 -
Pediatric Cardiology Jan 2011The benefits of prophylactic anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy for patients undergoing extracardiac conduit (ECC) Fontan procedure still are a matter of debate.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
The benefits of prophylactic anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy for patients undergoing extracardiac conduit (ECC) Fontan procedure still are a matter of debate. Through a systematic review and meta-analysis, this study aimed to determine the incidence of thromboembolism among patients undergoing ECC Fontan who received anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy. Until February 2010, MEDLINE studies describing the incidence of thromboembolic events after ECC Fontan were reviewed. Information on type of drugs and clinical outcome was extracted. The 20 studies analyzed involved 1,075 patients: 220 (20.4%) in the antiplatelet group and 855 (79.5%) in the anticoagulation group. The mean follow-up period ranged from 2 to 144 months. The overall thromboembolism rate was 5.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.8-7%; I(2) = 0%; p(het) = 0.32). The effect of different therapeutic strategies on the occurrence of thromboembolic and bleeding events was analyzed. Interestingly, the anticoagulation therapy compared with the antiplatelet therapy was not associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of overall thromboembolic complications (5% vs 4.5%, respectively; I(2) = 0%; p(het) = 0.80). Only two cases of bleeding were observed among patients receiving anticoagulant therapy at the time of the event. For patients undergoing ECC Fontan, the rate of thromboembolic and bleeding events associated with antiplatelet therapy is similar to that associated with anticoagulation therapy.
Topics: Anticoagulants; Fontan Procedure; Humans; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Thromboembolism; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 20967441
DOI: 10.1007/s00246-010-9808-4 -
BMC Medicine Jun 2010Dual antiplatelet therapy is usually superior to mono therapy in preventing recurrent vascular events (VEs). This systematic review assesses the safety and efficacy of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Dual antiplatelet therapy is usually superior to mono therapy in preventing recurrent vascular events (VEs). This systematic review assesses the safety and efficacy of triple antiplatelet therapy in comparison with dual therapy in reducing recurrent vascular events.
METHODS
Completed randomized controlled trials investigating the effect of triple versus dual antiplatelet therapy in patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD), cerebrovascular disease or peripheral vascular disease were identified using electronic bibliographic searches. Data were extracted on composite VEs, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, death and bleeding and analysed with Cochrane Review Manager software. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random effects models.
RESULTS
Twenty-five completed randomized trials (17,383 patients with IHD) were included which involving the use of intravenous (iv) GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors (abciximab, eptifibatide, tirofiban), aspirin, clopidogrel and/or cilostazol. In comparison with aspirin-based therapy, triple therapy using an intravenous GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor significantly reduced composite VEs and MI in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) (VE: OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.55-0.86; MI: OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.56-0.88) and ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (VE: OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.30-0.51; MI: OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.17-0.38). A significant reduction in death was also noted in STEMI patients treated with GP IIb/IIIa based triple therapy (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.49-0.99). Increased minor bleeding was noted in STEMI and elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients treated with GP IIb/IIIa based triple therapy. Stroke events were too infrequent for us to be able to identify meaningful trends and no data were available for patients recruited into trials on the basis of stroke or peripheral vascular disease.
CONCLUSIONS
Triple antiplatelet therapy based on iv GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors was more effective than aspirin-based dual therapy in reducing VEs in patients with acute coronary syndromes (STEMI and NSTEMI). Minor bleeding was increased among STEMI and elective PCI patients treated with a GP IIb/IIIa based triple therapy. In patients undergoing elective PCI, triple therapy had no beneficial effect and was associated with an 80% increase in transfusions and an eightfold increase in thrombocytopenia. Insufficient data exist for patients with prior ischaemic stroke and peripheral vascular disease and further research is needed in these groups of patients.
Topics: Brain Ischemia; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Myocardial Ischemia; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Secondary Prevention; Treatment Outcome; Vascular Diseases
PubMed: 20553581
DOI: 10.1186/1741-7015-8-36