Safety and Efficacy of Ticagrelor versus Clopidogrel in East Asian Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Treated with Dual Antiplatelet Therapy: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Cardiology. 2023;148(4):363-373. doi: 10.1159/000530602. Epub 2023 Apr 24.

Abstract

Introduction: The treatment strategy for dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with ticagrelor has been controversial in East Asian patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Our meta-analysis aimed to demonstrate whether intensified antithrombotic regimens with ticagrelor plus aspirin have more beneficial effects and fewer adverse events compared to those of clopidogrel plus aspirin in East Asian patients with ACS undergoing PCI.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Clinical Trials, Cochrane Library, and Chinese Clinical Trial Registry for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy of DAPT with ticagrelor or clopidogrel plus aspirin for secondary prevention of ACS in East Asian patients undergoing PCI. Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used as the metrics of choice for assessing treatment effects. The primary endpoint was bleeding events, and the secondary endpoints were major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs, including cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction [MI], and stroke), all-cause death, and definite/probable/possible stent thrombosis. The I2 index was used to assess heterogeneity.

Results: Six RCTs involving a total of 2,725 patients met the inclusion criteria. The incidence of all bleeding events with ticagrelor was higher than that with clopidogrel (RR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.31-2.07), but the incidence of MACCE was not significantly different between the two groups (RR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.54-2.16). All-cause death (RR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.67-1.79), cardiovascular death (RR, 1.42; 95% CI, 0.68-2.98), nonfatal MI (RR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.48-1.78), stroke (RR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.40-2.50), and stent thrombosis (RR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.19-2.98) were not statistically different between the two groups.

Conclusion: Ticagrelor increased the risk of bleeding and did not increase treatment efficacy compared to that of clopidogrel in the East Asian population who have ACS treated with PCI.

Keywords: Acute coronary syndrome; Clopidogrel; Dual antiplatelet therapy; Percutaneous coronary intervention; Ticagrelor.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Meta-Analysis
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Coronary Syndrome* / complications
  • Acute Coronary Syndrome* / drug therapy
  • Acute Coronary Syndrome* / therapy
  • Aspirin* / adverse effects
  • Aspirin* / therapeutic use
  • Clopidogrel* / adverse effects
  • Clopidogrel* / therapeutic use
  • East Asian People
  • Hemorrhage / chemically induced
  • Humans
  • Myocardial Infarction / etiology
  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention* / adverse effects
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors* / adverse effects
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors* / therapeutic use
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Stroke / etiology
  • Ticagrelor* / adverse effects
  • Ticagrelor* / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Aspirin
  • Clopidogrel
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
  • Ticagrelor

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the China National Key R&D Project (No. SQ2022YFC2500062), project title: coronary heart disease (CHD) individualized precision diagnosis system building and optimization strategy research for coronary heart disease.