Clinical Outcomes of Prolonged Antiplatelet Therapy after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: The optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is not established in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Objective: In this meta-analysis, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of long duration DAPT compared with short duration DAPT in CKD patients after PCI. Methods: We searched PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase to identify studies assessing the effect of DAPT duration in CKD patients with PCI. Endpoints included all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), death or myocardial infarction (MI), revascularization, and bleeding. Event rates were compared with a random-effects model expressed by odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Six studies were included. CKD patients with extended DAPT duration were at a lower risk of mortality (OR 1.40, 95% CI: 1.11–1.77), MACE (OR 1.33, 95% CI: 1.17–1.51), mortality or MI (OR 1.24, 95% CI: 1.10–1.40), and stroke (OR 1.28, 95% CI: 1.05–1.56). However, there was no significant difference in revascularization and bleeding events between the two groups. Mortality was higher in patients with dialysis or drug-eluting stent comparing short- to long-term DAPT. Conclusions: Prolonged DAPT might decrease the risk of mortality, MACE, and stroke in patients with CKD without any significant difference in bleeding or revascularization. Additional studies are required to determine whether long-term DAPT could be considered for most CKD patients after PCI.