Patterns of aspirin dosing in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes in the CRUSADE Quality Improvement Initiative

Am J Cardiol. 2007 Jun 1;99(11):1496-9. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2007.01.021. Epub 2007 Apr 12.

Abstract

Recent studies have suggested that low-dose aspirin has preserved benefit with less bleeding compared with standard-dose aspirin when given with or without clopidogrel in patients with high-risk non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE ACSs). We evaluated 22,618 patients with NSTE ACSs and high-risk features (ischemic ST-segment changes and/or positive cardiac markers) from 369 hospitals included in the CRUSADE initiative from May 4, 2003 to September 30, 2004. We analyzed acute (<24 hours of admission) and discharge aspirin doses in relation to concomitant clopidogrel use and other clinical predictors. Dosing of aspirin in the first 24 hours was as follows: 17.3% of patients (n = 3,911) received 81 mg, 13.5% (n = 3,062) received 162 mg, 67.4% (n = 15,247) received 325 mg, and 1.8% (n = 398) received >325 mg. Use of lower dose aspirin increased at discharge: 40.2% (n = 7,524) received 81 mg, 3.1% (n = 579) received 162 mg, and 55.7% (n = 10,423) received 325 mg. In patients who received concomitant clopidogrel at discharge (n = 12,635), 37.6% received aspirin 81 mg and 58.5% received 325 mg. Compared with patients who did not receive concomitant discharge clopidogrel (n = 4,772), 44.0% received aspirin 81 mg and 51.2% received 325 mg. Use of aspirin 81 mg was significantly lower in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (31.5% vs 46.2%, p <0.0001). In conclusion, most patients with high-risk NSTE ACSs in the United States continue to be treated with aspirin 325 mg at discharge with and without concomitant clopidogrel, despite recent studies that have shown a better safety profile with low-dose aspirin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Angina, Unstable / drug therapy
  • Aspirin / administration & dosage*
  • Clopidogrel
  • Coronary Artery Disease / drug therapy*
  • Coronary Artery Disease / physiopathology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Heart Conduction System / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Discharge / standards
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Quality of Health Care*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Syndrome
  • Ticlopidine / analogs & derivatives
  • Ticlopidine / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Fibrinolytic Agents
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
  • Clopidogrel
  • Ticlopidine
  • Aspirin