Duration and clinical outcome of dual antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention: a retrospective cohort study using a medical information database from Japanese hospitals

In this real-world, retrospective cohort study of 9753 patients in Japan prescribed dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), we investigated DAPT duration and determined factors associated with early DAPT discontinuation and with event rates in patients who discontinued DAPT. The study period was April 1, 2012–March 31, 2018; endpoints comprised composite efficacy [death, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke] and bleeding (intracranial, gastrointestinal, and requiring transfusion) endpoints. Overall, 68.8% of patients were continuing DAPT at 3 months post-PCI. Patients without major efficacy or safety events within 3 months after index PCI were included in a landmark analysis set (LAS; n = 7056), and categorized as DAPT ≥ 3 months (continuation) versus < 3 months (discontinuation). In the two LAS analysis groups, there was no difference in the composite bleeding endpoint (P = 0.067), although the incidence of the composite efficacy endpoint was higher in the discontinuation group (P < 0.001). In multivariate regression analysis, age ≥ 75 years, minor bleeding after PCI, history of cerebral infarction, history of cerebral or gastrointestinal bleeding, atrial fibrillation, dialysis, and anticoagulant use after PCI were associated with early DAPT discontinuation. Acute coronary syndrome, history of MI, kidney disorder, and anticoagulant use after PCI were associated with the composite efficacy endpoint in the discontinuation group. In conclusion, early DAPT discontinuation is more likely in patients at high bleeding risk, but may influence the occurrence of ischemic events in these patients. Determination of DAPT duration should take into account potential ischemic risk, even in patients at high bleeding risk. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12928-021-00833-z.