Key result
Among 227 patients initiated on ticagrelor, 20.7% prematurely discontinued therapy, and a composite of vascular death, MI, or stroke occurred in 8.8% of the entire cohort.
Cohort (n=227)
Yes
In a real-world registry, nearly a third of ticagrelor prescriptions were off-label and a fifth of patients prematurely discontinued therapy, which was associated with increased adverse clinical events.
Premature ticagrelor discontinuation was associated with higher events; leaves open whether adherence interventions reduce risk in broader real-world use.
BACKGROUND: As ticagrelor enters into clinical use for acute coronary syndrome, it is important to understand patient/physician behavior in terms of appropriate use, adherence, and event rates. METHODS: The Southern Saskatchewan Ticagrelor Registry is a prospective, observational, multicenter cohort study that identifies consecutive patients started on ticagrelor. We aimed to evaluate both on- and off-label use, identify characteristics of patients who prematurely stop ticagrelor, and describe patient/physician behavior contributing to inappropriate stoppage of this medication. RESULTS: From April 2012 to September 2013, 227 patients were initiated on ticagrelor, with a mean age of 62.2±12.1 years. The participants were 66% men and had a mean follow up of 157.4±111.7 days. Seventy-four patients (32.4%) had off-label indications. Forty-seven patients (20.7%) prematurely stopped ticagrelor and were more likely to be older, women, nonwhite, present with shock, and complain of dyspnea. Twenty-six of the 47 patients stopped ticagrelor inappropriately because of patient nonadherence (18 patients) and physician advice (eight patients). A composite outcome event of death from vascular causes, myocardial infarction, or stroke occurred in 8.8% of the entire cohort and was more likely to occur in those older then 65 years, those presenting with cardiogenic shock, and those who prematurely stopped ticagrelor. CONCLUSION: In this real-world registry of patients started on ticagrelor, a third have off-label indications and a fifth prematurely stop the medication. Premature discontinuation was an independent predictor of major life-threatening bleeding and increased composite event rate of death from vascular causes, myocardial infarction, or stroke.
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Dehghani et al. (2014) conducted a cohort in Acute coronary syndrome (n=227). Ticagrelor was evaluated on Composite outcome event of death from vascular causes, myocardial infarction, or stroke. Among 227 patients initiated on ticagrelor, 20.7% prematurely discontinued therapy, and a composite of vascular death, MI, or stroke occurred in 8.8% of the entire cohort.
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