Canadian Cardiovascular Society/Canadian Association of Interventional Cardiology 2023 Focused Update of the Guidelines for the Use of Antiplatelet Therapy.

Antiplatelet therapy (APT) is the foundation of treatment and prevention of atherothrombotic events in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Selecting the optimal APT strategies to reduce major adverse cardiovascular events, while balancing bleeding risk, requires ongoing review of clinical trials. Appended, the focused update of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society/Canadian Association of Interventional Cardiology guidelines for the use of APT provides recommendations on the following topics: (1) use of acetylsalicylic acid in primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; (2) dual APT (DAPT) duration after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients at high bleeding risk; (3) potent DAPT (P2Y12 inhibitor) choice in patients who present with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and possible DAPT de-escalation strategies after PCI; (4) choice and duration of DAPT in ACS patients who are medically treated without revascularization; (5) pretreatment with DAPT (P2Y12 inhibitor) before elective or nonelective coronary angiography; (6) perioperative and longer-term APT management in patients who require coronary artery bypass grafting surgery; and (7) use of APT in patients with atrial fibrillation who require oral anticoagulation after PCI or medically managed ACS. These recommendations are all on the basis of systematic reviews and meta-analyses conducted as part of the development of these guidelines, provided in the Supplementary Material.

2018 Canadian Cardiovascular Society/Canadian Association of Interventional Cardiology Focused Update of the Guidelines for the Use of Antiplatelet Therapy.

Antiplatelet therapy (APT) has become an important tool in the treatment and prevention of atherosclerotic events, particularly those associated with coronary artery disease. A large evidence base has evolved regarding the relationship between APT prescription in various clinical contexts and risk/benefit relationships. The Guidelines Committee of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and Canadian Association of Interventional Cardiology publishes regular updates of its recommendations, taking into consideration the most recent clinical evidence. The present update to the 2011 and 2013 Canadian Cardiovascular Society APT guidelines incorporates new evidence on how to optimize APT use, particularly in situations in which few to no data were previously available. The recommendations update focuses on the following primary topics: (1) the duration of dual APT (DAPT) in patients who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndrome and non-acute coronary syndrome indications; (2) management of DAPT in patients who undergo noncardiac surgery; (3) management of DAPT in patients who undergo elective and semiurgent coronary artery bypass graft surgery; (4) when and how to switch between different oral antiplatelet therapies; and (5) management of antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy in patients who undergo PCI. For PCI patients, we specifically analyze the particular considerations in patients with atrial fibrillation, mechanical or bioprosthetic valves (including transcatheter aortic valve replacement), venous thromboembolic disease, and established left ventricular thrombus or possible left ventricular thrombus with reduced ejection fraction after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. In addition to specific recommendations, we provide values and preferences and practical tips to aid the practicing clinician in the day to day use of these important agents.

Anticoagulant and Antiplatelet Prescribing Patterns for Patients with Atrial Fibrillation after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines recommend triple antithrombotic therapy (TAT), defined as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), clopidogrel, and warfarin, for patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation. The choice of anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy in this population is ambiguous and complex, and prescribing patterns are not well documented. OBJECTIVE: To characterize local prescribing patterns for anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. METHODS: A chart review was conducted at a single quaternary cardiology centre. Patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation were identified via medical records, and those who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention were identified using a local clinical patient registry. Adult inpatients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and a CHADS2 score (based on congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥ 75 years, diabetes mellitus, prior stroke) of 1 or higher who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention from 2011 to 2013 were included. Patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery or transcatheter aortic valve replacement, those with mechanical devices requiring anticoagulation, and those with an allergy to any component of TAT were excluded. RESULTS: Seventy patients were included. The median age was 75 years, and 52 (74%) were men. At discharge, 30 (43%) were receiving TAT and 27 (39%) were receiving dual antiplatelet therapy (clopidogrel and ASA). No patients received the combination of warfarin and clopidogrel. Among those who received TAT, 90% (19 of 21) who received a bare metal stent had a recommended duration of 1 month, and 75% (6 of 8) who received a drug-eluting stent had a recommended duration of 1 year. Direct-acting oral anticoagulants with 2 antiplatelet drugs were prescribed for 9% (6 of 70) of the patients, and 10% (7 of 70) received ticagrelor and ASA with or without warfarin. Overall, the combination of ASA, oral anticoagulant, and P2Y12 inhibitor was used for 54% (38/70) of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Fewer than half of the patients in this study received TAT, and almost 20% received non-evidence-based therapy with a direct-acting oral anticoagulant or ticagrelor, alone or in combination. Despite current guideline recommendations, the rate of TAT utilization was lower than rates reported in the literature.

CONTEXTE: Les lignes directrices actuelles recommandent une trithérapie antithrombotique, composée d'acide acétylsalicylique (AAS), de clopidogrel et de warfarine, pour les patients atteints de fibrillation auriculaire non valvulaire qui ont subi l'implantation d'une endoprothèse par intervention coronarienne percutanée. Le choix de traitement par anticoagulant ou antiplaquettaire pour cette population est ambigu et complexe. De plus, les habitudes de prescription ne sont pas bien documentées. OBJECTIF: Offrir un portrait des habitudes locales de prescription de traitements par anticoagulant ou antiplaquettaire suite à une intervention coronarienne percutanée chez les patients atteints de fibrillation auriculaire non valvulaire. MÉTHODES: Une analyse des dossiers médicaux a été menée dans un seul centre quaternaire de cardiologie. Les patients atteints de fibrillation auriculaire non valvulaire ont été identifiés à l'aide de leurs dossiers médicaux. Ceux qui avaient subi une intervention coronarienne percutanée ont été trouvés en consultant un registre local de patients. Les patients adultes hospitalisés qui souffraient d'une fibrillation auriculaire non valvulaire, qui présentaient un score CHADS2 de 1 ou plus (calculé en fonction de la présence d'insuffisance cardiaque congestive, d'hypertension, d'âge égal ou supérieur à 75 ans, de diabète et d'accident vasculaire cérébral antérieur) et qui avaient subi une intervention coronarienne percutanée entre 2011 et 2013 ont été admis. Les patients qui avaient subi une chirurgie cardiovasculaire ou un remplacement valvulaire aortique par cathéter, ceux dotés de prothèses mécaniques nécessitant une anticoagulothérapie et ceux allergiques à un ou plusieurs éléments de la trithérapie antithrombotique ont été exclus. RÉSULTATS: L'âge médian des 70 patients admis était de 75 ans et 52 d'entre eux étaient des hommes. Au moment du congé, 30 (43 %) recevaient une trithérapie antithrombotique et 27 (39 %) recevaient une bithérapie antiplaquettaire (AAS et clopidogrel). Aucun patient n'a reçu une association de warfarine et de clopidogrel. Parmi ceux qui ont reçu une trithérapie antithrombotique, la durée recommandée du traitement était d'un mois pour 90 % (19 sur 21) de ceux qui ont reçu une endoprothèse métallique nue et d'un an pour 75 % (6 sur 8) de ceux qui ont reçu une endoprothèse à élution de médicaments. On a prescrit pour 9 % (6 sur 70) des patients un anticoagulant oral direct accompagné de deux antiplaquettaires. De plus, 10 % (7 sur 70) des patients ont reçu du ticagrelor et de l'AAS avec ou sans warfarine. Dans l'ensemble, la combinaison d'AAS, d'un anticoagulant oral et d'un inhibiteur du P2Y12 a été employée chez 54 % (38 sur 70) des patients. CONCLUSIONS: Moins de la moitié des patients de la présente étude ont reçu une trithérapie antithrombotique et près de 20 % ont reçu un traitement non fondé sur des données probantes composé d'un anticoagulant oral direct ou de ticagrelor, employés seuls ou en association. Malgré les recommandations des lignes directrices actuelles, le taux de recours à la trithérapie antithrombotique était plus faible que les pourcentages présentés dans la littérature.

Focused 2012 update of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society guidelines for the use of antiplatelet therapy.

The initial 2010 Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) Guidelines for the Use of Antiplatelet Therapy in the Outpatient Setting were published in May 2011. As part of a planned re-evaluation within 2 years, we conducted an extensive literature search encompassing all topics included in the 2010 CCS Guidelines, and concluded that there were sufficient new data to merit revisiting the guidance on antiplatelet therapy for secondary prevention in the first year after acute coronary syndrome (ACS), percutaneous coronary intervention, or coronary artery bypass grafting, and the interaction between clopidogrel and proton pump inhibitors. In addition, new clinical trials information about the efficacy and safety of combining novel oral anticoagulants with antiplatelet therapy in ACS justified the addition of a new section of recommendations to the Guidelines. In this focused update, we provide recommendations for the use of clopidogrel, ticagrelor, and prasugrel in non-ST elevation ACS, avoidance of prasugrel in patients with previous stroke/transient ischemic attack, higher doses of clopidogrel (j) /day) for the first 6 days after ACS, and the preferential use of prasugrel or ticagrelor after percutaneous coronary intervention in ACS. For non-ACS stented patients, we recommend acetylsalicylic acid/clopidogrel for 1 year, with at least 1 month of therapy for bare-metal stent patients and 3 months for drug-eluting stent patients unable to tolerate year-long double therapy. We also consider therapy for patients with a history of stent thrombosis, the indications for longer-term treatment, discontinuation timing preoperatively, indications for changing agents, the management of antiplatelet therapy before and after bypass surgery, and use/selection of proton pump inhibitors along with antiplatelet agents.

Impact of tobacco smoking cessation on stable clozapine or olanzapine treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the pharmacokinetic implications and potential clinical effects of tobacco smoking cessation in patients on stable clozapine or olanzapine treatment. DATA SOURCES: A literature search of MEDLINE (1950-November 2009) and EMBASE (1980-November 2009) was conducted using the search terms smoking, tobacco, cigarette, cannabis, smoking cessation, cytochrome P450, antipsychotic, clozapine, and olanzapine. In addition, reference lists from publications identified were searched manually. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: English-language articles and human studies were identified, yielding 111 returns. Articles that reported clinical outcomes following smoking cessation were selected. Pharmacokinetic data for these drugs were reviewed and articles that provided relevant background information were also included. DATA SYNTHESIS: Pharmacokinetic studies have demonstrated more rapid clearance of olanzapine and lower clozapine and norclozapine (desmethylclozapine) concentrations in smokers compared to nonsmokers. These studies also found that smokers require higher doses of these agents than nonsmokers. There are case reports of adverse clinical outcomes following smoking cessation in patients being treated with olanzapine and clozapine. Reports that included serum concentrations consistently found elevations following smoking cessation, and dosage reductions of 30-40% were required to achieve pre-cessation concentrations. Worsening psychiatric symptoms, somnolence, hypersalivation, extreme fatigue, extrapyramidal effects, and seizures have all been reported following smoking cessation in this patient group. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacists need to be aware of potential risks associated with smoking cessation in patients stabilized on clozapine or olanzapine. Toxicity as a result of recent smoking reduction or cessation may be a reason for hospital admission. For hospitalized patients, pharmacists should obtain information concerning smoking status, including cessation attempts. Nonspecific signs and symptoms of elevated clozapine or olanzapine concentrations should be considered in relation to clinical status while the patient is hospitalized. Measurement of baseline serum clozapine concentrations and/or empiric dosage adjustment in patients expected to have a prolonged hospital stay with forced smoking cessation may be appropriate.

Prolonged infusion of eptifibatide as bridge therapy between bare-metal stent insertion and cardiovascular surgery: case report and review of the literature.

Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel is the standard of care after coronary artery stent insertion. Clopidogrel, however, has been associated with an increased risk of bleeding if it is used before coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and current guidelines recommend that it be discontinued at least 5 days before surgery. Compared with dual antiplatelet therapy, single antiplatelet therapy or the combination of an antiplatelet agent and an anticoagulant is associated with an increased risk of subacute stent thrombosis. Management of patients who require semiurgent CABG after stent insertion presents a clinical challenge. Intravenous glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors provide antiplatelet coverage with a shorter duration of action; thus, in theory, they may be useful for these clinical situations. We describe a 47-year-old man who came to the emergency department with sudden-onset, retrosternal chest pain. An electrocardiogram confirmed a diagnosis of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. The patient underwent angioplasty and received a bare-metal stent. Because significant disease was revealed in other arteries, CABG was scheduled. Clopidogrel was discontinued in preparation for surgery, and the patient received an infusion of eptifibatide 2 microg/kg/minute as bridging therapy to surgery for a total of 9 days. No major hemorrhagic or clinically evident thrombotic complications occurred before or after the surgery. Eptifibatide may be safe and effective as bridging therapy for patients with intracoronary stents who require CABG.

A randomized trial of the effect of community pharmacist intervention on cholesterol risk management: the Study of Cardiovascular Risk Intervention by Pharmacists (SCRIP).

BACKGROUND: Despite clear evidence for the efficacy of lowering cholesterol levels, there is a deficiency in its real-world application. There is a need to explore alternative strategies to address this important public health problem. This study aimed to determine the effect of a program of community pharmacist intervention on the process of cholesterol risk management in patients at high risk for cardiovascular events. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial conducted in 54 community pharmacies (1998-2000) included patients at high risk for cardiovascular events (with atherosclerotic disease or diabetes mellitus with another risk factor). Patients randomized to pharmacist intervention received education and a brochure on risk factors, point-of-care cholesterol measurement, referral to their physician, and regular follow-up for 16 weeks. Pharmacists faxed a simple form to the primary care physician identifying risk factors and any suggestions. Usual care patients received the same brochure and general advice only, with minimal follow-up. The primary end point was a composite of performance of a fasting cholesterol panel by the physician or addition or increase in dose of cholesterol-lowering medication. RESULTS: The external monitoring committee recommended early study termination owing to benefit. Of the 675 patients enrolled, approximately 40% were women, and the average age was 64 years. The primary end point was reached in 57% of intervention patients vs 31% in usual care (odds ratio, 3.0; 95% confidence interval, 2.2-4.1; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: A community-based intervention program improved the process of cholesterol management in high-risk patients. This program demonstrates the value of community pharmacists working in collaboration with patients and physicians.