Overview

• An individual patient data meta-analysis of seven trials covering 28,982 patients found about a 14% lower rate of major cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events with clopidogrel versus aspirin.
• Major bleeding occurred at similar rates with both drugs, according to the study published in The Lancet and presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Madrid.
• Researchers concluded the evidence supports choosing clopidogrel for long-term antiplatelet monotherapy in patients with stable coronary artery disease.
• Benefits were reported across diverse patient subgroups, including people with factors thought to reduce responsiveness to clopidogrel.
• The British Heart Foundation’s chief scientific and medical officer said the results could influence prescribing, with longer-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness assessments still required for guideline changes.