Introduction
This study aims to evaluate whether maintaining dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for 6 months or longer after carotid artery stenting (CAS) reduces the risk of stroke, myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular death compared to DAPT for less than 6 months.
Methods
We used the nationwide population-based cohort database from the Korean National Health Insurance Service. Subjects aged 18 years old or older who underwent CAS between June 2006 and June 2019 were included in the current study. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) including stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), and cardiovascular death. The Kaplan-Meier product-limit technique was used to estimate survival curves, and a log-rank test was used to compare survival curves for the primary outcome.
Results
During the 2-year follow-up, the rates of MACE were 9.71% for longer DAPT and 10.42% for shorter DAPT. The cumulative incidence of MACE was not significantly different between patients with longer DAPT and those with shorter DAPT (hazard ratio, 1.08 [95% CI, 0.93-1.26], P=0.31; log-rank test).
Conclusion
Maintaining DAPT for 6 months of longer after CAS did not reduce the risk of MACE compared to DAPT for less than 6 months.