A recent study by the Cardiocentro Ticino Foundation suggests that P2Y12 inhibitors, a class of medications often used to prevent blood clots, could offer better protection against heart attacks and strokes than aspirin for people with coronary artery disease.
Even more encouragingly, these drugs appear to lower disease risks without increasing the chances of serious bleeding.
Aspirin has long been the standard medication for preventing heart attacks and strokes in people with heart and blood vessel conditions.
Many patients with acute coronary syndrome—a type of heart disease—are initially treated with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), which combines aspirin with a P2Y12 inhibitor such as clopidogrel, prasugrel, or ticagrelor. After this initial course, lifelong aspirin therapy has been the typical approach.
However, past research showed that clopidogrel, one of the P2Y12 inhibitors, could slightly reduce heart-related events compared to aspirin alone in patients with heart disease.
This new study builds on those findings, providing a more comprehensive look at how P2Y12 inhibitors compare with aspirin in long-term therapy.
The research involved 24,325 patients diagnosed with coronary artery disease. Participants were divided into two groups: one group received P2Y12 inhibitors, and the other group received aspirin.
Both groups were monitored for an average of 557 days, and the researchers assessed the risks of heart attacks, strokes, and bleeding events.
Here’s what they found:
- Lower risk of heart attacks and strokes: Patients taking P2Y12 inhibitors experienced a 12% reduction in the combined risk of heart attacks and strokes compared to those taking aspirin. This benefit was primarily driven by a 23% lower relative risk of heart attacks in the P2Y12 inhibitor group.
- Fewer bleeding complications: Major bleeding risks were similar between the two groups, but P2Y12 inhibitors were associated with fewer cases of gastrointestinal bleeding and hemorrhagic strokes than aspirin.
These results suggest that P2Y12 inhibitors may be a safer and more effective long-term treatment option for people with coronary artery disease.
Unlike aspirin, which can increase the risk of stomach and brain bleeds, P2Y12 inhibitors provide similar protection without these additional complications.
While aspirin remains a cornerstone of heart disease prevention, this study challenges its role as the go-to therapy after initial treatment with DAPT. P2Y12 inhibitors could represent a better alternative for long-term use in certain patients, especially those at higher risk of heart attacks.
The study, led by Professor Marco Valgimigli, highlights the importance of personalizing treatment plans for heart patients. With further research, these findings could help doctors refine their approaches to prevent heart-related events more effectively while minimizing risks.
If you or a loved one has coronary artery disease, it’s important to discuss treatment options with your healthcare provider. This study offers hope for safer, more effective ways to manage heart disease and improve long-term outcomes.
If you care about heart disease, please read studies about a big cause of heart failure, and common blood test could advance heart failure treatment.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about a new way to repair human heart, and results showing drinking coffee may help reduce heart failure risk.
Copyright © 2024 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
