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

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

Jingyuan Li  1   2 , Qian Wang  2 , Chunliu Wu  2 , Xiaoyu Qu  2 , Lei Zhang  2 , Xiaofeng He  2 , Sicong Ma  2 , Miaohan Qiu  2 , Xiaozeng Wang  1   2
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

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

Jingyuan Li et al. Cardiology. 2023.

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Literature search strategy and study selection.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Forest plots of primary outcomes. a The risk of all bleeding. b The risk of major bleeding (PLATO). c The risk of major bleeding (TIMI).
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Forest plots of secondary outcomes. a The risk of MACCE. b The risk of all-cause death. c The risk of cardiovascular death. d The risk of nonfatal MI. e The risk of stroke. f The risk of stent thrombosis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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