Baseline platelet count independently predicts long-term adverse outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: a single-center retrospective cohort study

Background and purpose: The association between platelet counts (PC) with clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) has been reported by some but not all previous studies. The present study aims to investigate the association of PC with the outcomes of CAD patients who underwent PCI. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine the potential impact of baseline PC with long-term outcomes in patients receiving at least one stent. The final analysis included a total of 6,046 patients. The median follow-up was 32 (1–120) months Results: All-cause mortality did not differ significantly among the four groups based on baseline PC (lowest 25%, Quartile 1 [Q1], PC < 173, n = 1,473; 25%–50%, Quartile 2 [Q2], 173 ≤ PC < 208, n = 1,529; 50%–75%, Quartile 3 [Q3], 208 ≤ PC < 250, n = 1,507; and 75%–100%, Quartile 4 [Q4], PC ≥ 250, n = 1,537). The rate of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events was 12.8% (188/1,473) in the Q1 group, 12.8% (196/1,529) in the Q2 group, 15.1% (228/1,507) in the Q3 group, and 16.3% (150/1,537) in the Q4 group (P = 0.010). The rate of major adverse cardiovascular events was 11.3% (167/1,473) in the Q1 group, 11.6% (177/1,529) in the Q2 group, 13.9% (210/1,507) in the Q3 group, and 15.0% (231/1,537) in the Q4 group (P = 0.004). Using Q1 as reference, the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in multivariate Cox regression was 1.212 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.004–1.455, P < 0.001) in Q2, 1.455 (95% CI: 1.200–1.766, P < 0.001) in Q3, and 1.754 (95% CI: 1.426–2.118, P < 0.001) in Q4. Using Q1 as reference, the aHR for major adverse cardiovascular events was 1.201(95% CI: 0.968–1.492, P = 0.096) in Q2, 1.489 (95% CI: 1.206–1.837, P < 0.001) in Q3, and 1.847 (95% CI: 1.500–2.275, P < 0.001) in Q4. Conclusion: A higher baseline PC was independently associated with an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events and major adverse cardiovascular events, but not all-cause-mortality in CAD patients after PCI.