John Simes1, Cecilia Becattini2, Giancarlo Agnelli2, John W Eikelboom2, Adrienne C Kirby2, Rebecca Mister2, Paolo Prandoni2, Timothy A Brighton2. 1. From the National Health and Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (J.S., A.C.K., R.M.); the Division of Internal and Cardiovascular Medicine and Stroke Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy (C.B., G.A.); the Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada (J.W.E.); the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua (P.P.); and the Department of Haematology, South Eastern Area Laboratory Services (SEALS), Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia (T.A.B.). john@ctc.usyd.edu.au. 2. From the National Health and Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (J.S., A.C.K., R.M.); the Division of Internal and Cardiovascular Medicine and Stroke Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy (C.B., G.A.); the Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada (J.W.E.); the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua (P.P.); and the Department of Haematology, South Eastern Area Laboratory Services (SEALS), Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia (T.A.B.).
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In patients with a first unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE) the risk of recurrent VTE remains high after anticoagulant treatment is discontinued. The Aspirin for the Prevention of Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism (the Warfarin and Aspirin [WARFASA]) and the Aspirin to Prevent Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism (ASPIRE) trials showed that aspirin reduces this risk, but they were not individually powered to detect treatment effects for particular outcomes or subgroups. METHODS AND RESULTS: An individual patient data analysis of these trials was planned, before their results were known, to assess the effect of aspirin versus placebo on recurrent VTE, major vascular events (recurrent VTE, myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular disease death) and bleeding, overall and within predefined subgroups. The primary analysis, for VTE, was by intention to treat using time-to-event data. Of 1224 patients, 193 had recurrent VTE over 30.4 months' median follow-up. Aspirin reduced recurrent VTE (7.5%/yr versus 5.1%/yr; hazard ratio [HR], 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.51-0.90; P=0.008), including both deep-vein thrombosis (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.47-0.92; P=0.01) and pulmonaryembolism (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.41-1.06; P=0.08). Aspirin reduced major vascular events (8.7%/yr versus 5.7%/yr; HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.50-0.86; P=0.002). The major bleeding rate was low (0.4%/yr for placebo and 0.5%/yr for aspirin). After adjustment for treatment adherence, recurrent VTE was reduced by 42% (HR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.40-0.85; P=0.005). Prespecified subgroup analyses indicate similar relative, but larger absolute, risk reductions in men and older patients. CONCLUSIONS:Aspirin after anticoagulant treatment reduces the overall risk of recurrence by more than a third in a broad cross-section of patients with a first unprovoked VTE, without significantly increasing the risk of bleeding. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION URL: www.anzctr.org.au. Unique identifier: ACTRN12611000684921.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: In patients with a first unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE) the risk of recurrent VTE remains high after anticoagulant treatment is discontinued. The Aspirin for the Prevention of Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism (the Warfarin and Aspirin [WARFASA]) and the Aspirin to Prevent Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism (ASPIRE) trials showed that aspirin reduces this risk, but they were not individually powered to detect treatment effects for particular outcomes or subgroups. METHODS AND RESULTS: An individual patient data analysis of these trials was planned, before their results were known, to assess the effect of aspirin versus placebo on recurrent VTE, major vascular events (recurrent VTE, myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular disease death) and bleeding, overall and within predefined subgroups. The primary analysis, for VTE, was by intention to treat using time-to-event data. Of 1224 patients, 193 had recurrent VTE over 30.4 months' median follow-up. Aspirin reduced recurrent VTE (7.5%/yr versus 5.1%/yr; hazard ratio [HR], 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.51-0.90; P=0.008), including both deep-vein thrombosis (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.47-0.92; P=0.01) and pulmonary embolism (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.41-1.06; P=0.08). Aspirin reduced major vascular events (8.7%/yr versus 5.7%/yr; HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.50-0.86; P=0.002). The major bleeding rate was low (0.4%/yr for placebo and 0.5%/yr for aspirin). After adjustment for treatment adherence, recurrent VTE was reduced by 42% (HR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.40-0.85; P=0.005). Prespecified subgroup analyses indicate similar relative, but larger absolute, risk reductions in men and older patients. CONCLUSIONS:Aspirin after anticoagulant treatment reduces the overall risk of recurrence by more than a third in a broad cross-section of patients with a first unprovoked VTE, without significantly increasing the risk of bleeding. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION URL: www.anzctr.org.au. Unique identifier: ACTRN12611000684921.
Authors: Ena Gupta; Furqan S Siddiqi; Ryan Kunjal; Muhammad Faisal; Farah Al-Saffar; Abubakr A Bajwa; Lisa M Jones; Vandana Seeram; James D Cury; Adil Shujaat Journal: J Thromb Thrombolysis Date: 2017-10 Impact factor: 2.300
Authors: Kristen M Sanfilippo; Suhong Luo; Tzu-Fei Wang; Mark Fiala; Martin Schoen; Tanya M Wildes; Joseph Mikhael; Nicole M Kuderer; David C Calverley; Jesse Keller; Theodore Thomas; Kenneth R Carson; Brian F Gage Journal: Am J Hematol Date: 2019-08-19 Impact factor: 10.047