Abstract
Background: It remains controversial whether dual antiplatelet therapy reduces stroke more than aspirin alone. Aim: We aimed to assess the effects of adding clopidogrel to aspirin on the occurrence of stroke and major haemorrhage in patients with vascular disease. Methods: Meta-analysis of published randomized trials comparing the combination of clopidogrel and aspirin vs. aspirin alone that reported stroke and major bleeding. Results: Thirteen randomized trials were included with a total of 90433 participants (mean age 63 years; 63% male) with a mean follow-up of 1·0 years and 2011 strokes. Stroke was reduced 19% by dual antiplatelet therapy (odds ratio=0·81, 95% confidence interval 0·74-0·89) with no evidence of heterogeneity of effect across different trial populations (I2 index=5%, P=0·4 for heterogeneity). Dual antiplatelet therapy reduced ischemic stroke by 23% (odds ratio=0·77; 95% confidence interval 0·70-0·85); there was a nonsignificant 12% increase in intracerebral haemorrhage (odds ratio=1·12, 95% confidence interval 0·86-1·46). Among 1930 participants with recent (<30 days) brain ischemia from four trials, stroke was reduced by 33% (odds ratio=0·67, 95% confidence interval 0·46-0·97) by dual antiplatelet therapy vs. aspirin alone. The risk of major bleeding was increased by 40% (odds ratio=1·40, 95% confidence interval 1·26-1·55) by dual antiplatelet therapy. Conclusions: This meta-analysis demonstrates a substantial relative risk reduction in stroke by clopidogrel plus aspirin vs. aspirin alone that is consistent across different trial cohorts. Major haemorrhage is increased by dual antiplatelet therapy.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 686-691 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | International Journal of Stroke |
Volume | 10 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 1 2015 |
Keywords
- Antiplatelet therapy
- Clinical trials
- Clopidogrel
- Stroke
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neurology
- Clinical Neurology