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ABSTRACT: Objective
There is insufficient evidence on which to base a recommendation for optimal antiplatelet therapy following a stroke while on aspirin. The objective was to compare clopidogrel initiation vs aspirin reinitiation for vascular risk reduction among patients with ischaemic stroke on aspirin at the time of their index stroke.Design
Retrospective.Setting
We conducted a nationwide cohort study by retrieving all hospitalised patients (?18 years) with a primary diagnosis of ischaemic stroke between 2003 and 2009 from Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database.Participants
Among 3862 patients receiving aspirin before the index ischaemic stroke and receiving either aspirin or clopidogrel after index stroke during follow-up period, 1623 were excluded due to a medication possession ratio <80%. Also, 355 were excluded due to history of atrial fibrillation, valvular heart disease or coagulopathy. Therefore, 1884 patients were included in our final analysis.Interventions
Patients were categorised into two groups based on whether clopidogrel or aspirin was prescribed during the follow-up period. Follow-up was from time of the index stroke to admission for recurrent stroke or myocardial infarction, death or the end of 2010.Primary and secondary outcome measures
The primary end point was hospitalisation due to a new-onset major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE: composite of any stroke or myocardial infarction). The leading secondary end point was any recurrent stroke.Results
Compared to aspirin, clopidogrel was associated with a lower occurrence of future MACE (HR=0.54, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.68, p<0.001, number needed to treat: 8) and recurrent stroke (HR=0.54, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.69, p<0.001, number needed to treat: 9) after adjustment of relevant covariates.Conclusions
Among patients with an ischaemic stroke while taking aspirin, clopidogrel initiation was associated with fewer recurrent vascular events than aspirin reinitiation.
SUBMITTER: Lee M
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4256539 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Lee Meng M Wu Yi-Ling YL Saver Jeffrey L JL Lee Hsuei-Chen HC Lee Jiann-Der JD Chang Ku-Chou KC Wu Chih-Ying CY Lee Tsong-Hai TH Wang Hui-Hsuan HH Rao Neal M NM Ovbiagele Bruce B
BMJ open 20141202 12
<h4>Objective</h4>There is insufficient evidence on which to base a recommendation for optimal antiplatelet therapy following a stroke while on aspirin. The objective was to compare clopidogrel initiation vs aspirin reinitiation for vascular risk reduction among patients with ischaemic stroke on aspirin at the time of their index stroke.<h4>Design</h4>Retrospective.<h4>Setting</h4>We conducted a nationwide cohort study by retrieving all hospitalised patients (≥18 years) with a primary diagnosis ...[more]