Warfarin added to dual antiplatelet therapy after PCI significantly increased the risk of major bleeding compared to dual antiplatelet therapy alone (HR 5.0; 95% CI 1.4-17.8; p=0.012).
Cohort (n=194)
No
Does the addition of warfarin to dual antiplatelet therapy increase the risk of major bleeding in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention?
The use of warfarin in combination with dual antiplatelet therapy after PCI is associated with a 5-fold increased risk of major bleeding compared to dual antiplatelet therapy alone.
Hazard Ratio: 5 (95% CI 1.4–17.8)
Absolute Event Rate: 14.4% vs 3.1%
p-value: p=0.012
STUDY OBJECTIVES: To characterize the safety of concomitant aspirin, clopidogrel, and warfarin therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and to identify patient characteristics that increase the risk of hemorrhage. DESIGN: Retrospective, matched cohort study. SETTING: Academic medical center and affiliated outpatient offices. PATIENTS: The active group consisted of 97 patients who underwent PCI from January 1, 2000-September 30, 2005, and received warfarin, aspirin, and clopidogrel; the control group consisted of 97 patients who were individually matched to patients in the active group by procedure type, procedure year, age, and sex. Control patients received aspirin and clopidogrel. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Clinical data were collected from inpatient records, outpatient physician office records, and telephone surveys administered to patients or caregivers. The primary end point was major bleeding. The median duration of follow-up after index procedure was 182 days (range 0-191 days) in the active group and 182 days (range 0-213 days) in the control group. Fifty-seven (59%) of the 97 patients in the active group received warfarin for atrial fibrillation. There were 14 major bleeds in the active group (including 1 death) and 3 major bleeds in the control group during the study period. Mean international normalized ratio at the time of bleeding was 3.4. Hazard ratio for major bleeding was 5.0 in patients receiving warfarin therapy (95% confidence interval 1.4-17.8, p=0.012). Aspirin dose, age, sex, body mass index, history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, intraprocedural glycoprotein IIb-IIIa or anticoagulant type, and postprocedural anticoagulant use did not have a significant effect on the risk of major bleeding. CONCLUSION: Warfarin was an independent predictor of major bleeding after PCI in patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy. Prospective data to further characterize the safety of concomitant warfarin and dual antiplatelet therapy after PCI are needed.
DeEugenio et al. (2007) conducted a cohort in Percutaneous coronary intervention (n=194). Warfarin (with aspirin and clopidogrel) vs. Aspirin and clopidogrel was evaluated on Major bleeding (HR 5.0, 95% CI 1.4-17.8, p=0.012). Warfarin added to dual antiplatelet therapy after PCI significantly increased the risk of major bleeding compared to dual antiplatelet therapy alone (HR 5.0; 95% CI 1.4-17.8; p=0.012).