PURPOSE: Patients undergoing coronary stenting must take dual antiplatelet therapy during a variable period. The combination of chronic oral anticoagulants (COA) with antiplatelet therapy has been related to an increased risk of hemorrhage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of the antiplatelet therapy observance in those patients and the incidence of adverse events after 1 year. METHODS: Patients with prior COA treatment with coronary lesions suitable for stenting were included. Clinical assessment was performed on admission, with follow-up at 1, 6, and 12 months. Antiplatelet and COA treatment, adverse cardiac events, and hemorrhagic episodes were registered. RESULTS: A total of 70 patients were included. Mean age was 70.5 +/- 8.7 years. The most common cause of COA was atrial fibrillation. Conventional stents were used in 40% and drug-eluting stents (DES) in 60%. Treatment at discharge was: ASA + clopidogrel + COA 64.2%, ASA + clopidogrel 25.4%, COA + clopidogrel 7.5%, and COA + ASA 3%. Observance of antiplatelet and COA therapy at 1-6-12 month follow-up after conventional stent was: COA 73.1-70.8-69.6%; ASA 92.3-75.4-65.2%; clopidogrel 92.3-62.5-43.5%. In patients receiving DES, it was: COA 76.9-78.9-80.6%, ASA 79.5-65.8-55.7%, and clopidogrel 94.9-84.2-61.1%. Dual antiplatelet therapy in patients with DES over these periods was taken in 79.5-51.4-27.8%, respectively. The incidence of adverse events was minor bleeding 11.4%, major bleeding 8.6%, myocardial infarction 4.3%, stent thrombosis 1.4%, and death 12.8%. CONCLUSIONS: There is a great variability in the treatment prescribed at discharge. Low observance with dual antiplatelet therapy has been detected in these patients, particularly after DES implantation, and they present a very high rate of complications in the follow-up.
PURPOSE:Patients undergoing coronary stenting must take dual antiplatelet therapy during a variable period. The combination of chronic oral anticoagulants (COA) with antiplatelet therapy has been related to an increased risk of hemorrhage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of the antiplatelet therapy observance in those patients and the incidence of adverse events after 1 year. METHODS:Patients with prior COA treatment with coronary lesions suitable for stenting were included. Clinical assessment was performed on admission, with follow-up at 1, 6, and 12 months. Antiplatelet and COA treatment, adverse cardiac events, and hemorrhagic episodes were registered. RESULTS: A total of 70 patients were included. Mean age was 70.5 +/- 8.7 years. The most common cause of COA was atrial fibrillation. Conventional stents were used in 40% and drug-eluting stents (DES) in 60%. Treatment at discharge was: ASA + clopidogrel + COA 64.2%, ASA + clopidogrel 25.4%, COA + clopidogrel 7.5%, and COA + ASA 3%. Observance of antiplatelet and COA therapy at 1-6-12 month follow-up after conventional stent was: COA 73.1-70.8-69.6%; ASA 92.3-75.4-65.2%; clopidogrel 92.3-62.5-43.5%. In patients receiving DES, it was: COA 76.9-78.9-80.6%, ASA 79.5-65.8-55.7%, and clopidogrel 94.9-84.2-61.1%. Dual antiplatelet therapy in patients with DES over these periods was taken in 79.5-51.4-27.8%, respectively. The incidence of adverse events was minor bleeding 11.4%, major bleeding 8.6%, myocardial infarction 4.3%, stent thrombosis 1.4%, and death 12.8%. CONCLUSIONS: There is a great variability in the treatment prescribed at discharge. Low observance with dual antiplatelet therapy has been detected in these patients, particularly after DES implantation, and they present a very high rate of complications in the follow-up.