Dual Antiplatelet Therapy De-Escalation in Stabilized Myocardial Infarction With High Ischemic Risk
Authors: Lee Myunhee , Byun Sungwook , Lim Sungmin , Choo Eun Ho , Lee Kwan Yong , Moon Donggyu , Choi Ik Jun , Hwang Byung-Hee , Kim Chan Joon , Park Mahn-Won , Choi Yun Seok , Kim Hee-Yeol , Yoo Ki-Dong , Jeon Doo-Soo , Yim Hyeon Woo , Chang Kiyuk ,   TALOS-AMI Investigators, Jeong Myung Ho , Park Chul-Soo , Shin Woo Seung , Kim Dong Bin , Jung Sang Shik , Cho Byung Ryeol , Ko Jin Shin , Kim Won , Huh Seung Ho , Kim Ki Sik , Kim Sang Hyeon , Cho Chang Hyeon , Park Sang Ho , Yoon Myung Ho , Park Jong Sun , Park Kyung Min , Lee Seoung Hwan , Chung Kyung Tae , Do Joon Hyeong , Kim Sang Wook , Baek Joo Yeol , Shim Byung Joo , Sung Ki Chul , Oh Ju Hyun , Cha Kwang Soo , Cho Young Hoon , Jang Jae Sik , Cho Jin Man , Lee Jang Hoon 
Published: December 2023

Importance

In patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who have high ischemic risk, data on the efficacy and safety of the de-escalation strategy of switching from ticagrelor to clopidogrel are lacking.

Objective

To evaluate the outcomes of the de-escalation strategy compared with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with ticagrelor in stabilized patients with AMI and high ischemic risk following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Design, Setting, and Participants

This was a post hoc analysis of the Ticagrelor vs Clopidogrel in Stabilized Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction (TALOS-AMI) trial, an open-label, assessor-blinded, multicenter, randomized clinical trial. Patients with AMI who had no event during 1 month of ticagrelor-based DAPT after PCI were included. High ischemic risk was defined as having a history of diabetes or chronic kidney disease, multivessel PCI, at least 3 lesions treated, total stent length greater than 60 mm, at least 3 stents implanted, left main PCI, or bifurcation PCI with at least 2 stents. Data were collected from February 14, 2014, to January 21, 2021, and analyzed from December 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022.

Intervention

Patients were randomly assigned to either de-escalation from ticagrelor to clopidogrel or ticagrelor-based DAPT.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Ischemic outcomes (composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, ischemia-driven revascularization, or stent thrombosis) and bleeding outcomes (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 2, 3, or 5 bleeding) were evaluated.

Results

Of 2697 patients with AMI (mean [SD] age, 60.0 [11.4] years; 454 [16.8%] female), 1371 (50.8%; 684 assigned to de-escalation and 687 assigned to ticagrelor-based DAPT) had high ischemic risk features and a significantly higher risk of ischemic outcomes than those without high ischemic risk (1326 patients [49.2%], including 665 assigned to de-escalation and 661 assigned to ticagrelor-based DAPT) (hazard ratio [HR], 1.74; 95% CI, 1.15-2.63; P = .01). De-escalation to clopidogrel, compared with ticagrelor-based DAPT, showed no significant difference in ischemic risk across the high ischemic risk group (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.54-1.45; P = .62) and the non–high ischemic risk group (HR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.33-1.28; P = .21), without heterogeneity (P for interaction = .47). The bleeding risk of the de-escalation group was consistent in both the high ischemic risk group (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.37-1.11; P = .11) and the non–high ischemic risk group (HR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.24-0.75; P = .003), without heterogeneity (P for interaction = .32).

Conclusions and Relevance

In stabilized patients with AMI, the ischemic and bleeding outcomes of an unguided de-escalation strategy with clopidogrel compared with a ticagrelor-based DAPT strategy were consistent without significant interaction, regardless of the presence of high ischemic risk.