Predictors and Management of Antiplatelet-Related Bleeding Complications for Acute Coronary Syndrome in Chinese Elderly Patients

Background/aims: Bleeding complications after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are strongly associated with adverse patient outcomes. However, there are no specific guidelines for the predictors and management of antiplatelet-related bleeding complications in Chinese elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 237 consecutive patients (aged ≥ 75 years) with ACS who had undergone successful PCI from January 2010 to December 2016 was performed to identify predictors and management of antiplatelet-related bleeding complications. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate independent predictors of antiplatelet-related bleeding complications. We defined antiplatelet-related bleeding complications as first hospitalization received long-term oral antiplatelet therapy and required hospitalization, including gastrointestinal and intracranial bleedings.

Results: After multivariable adjustment, independent risk predictors of antiplatelet-related bleeding complications included female gender (odds ratio [OR]: 2.96; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.98 to 4.15; P = 0.011), body mass index (OR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.06 to 1.94; P = 0.034), previous history of bleeding (OR: 4.03; 95% CI: 1.84 to 6.12; P = 0.004), fasting blood glucose (OR: 2.79; 95% CI: 1.23 to 4.46; P = 0.025), and chronic total occlusion lesion (OR: 4.69; 95% CI: 2.19 to 7.93; P = 0.007). Of 46 patients with antiplatelet-related bleeding complications, 54.3% were treated short-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) cessation (0-7 days) and 45.7% underwent long-term DAPT cessation (> 7 days). Among these, 14 patients presented major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), whereas no re-bleeding happened over all available follow-up. The incidence of MACCE was not significantly different between the two groups one year after PCI (36.0% for short-term DAPT cessation versus 23.8% for long-term DAPT cessation, P = 0.522).

Conclusion: For elderly patients with ACS, multiple factors were likely to contribute to antiplatelet-related bleeding complications, especially previous history of bleeding and chronic total occlusion lesion. Better individualized, tailored and risk-adjusted antiplatelet therapy after PCI is urgently needed in this high-risk population.