Adding heparin to aspirin reduces the incidence of myocardial infarction and death in patients with unstable angina. A meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and death in patients with unstable angina who are treated with aspirin plus heparin compared with patients treated with aspirin alone.


METHODS
Studies were retrieved using MEDLINE, bibliographies, and consultation with experts.


METHODS
Only published trials that enrolled patients with unstable angina, randomized participants to aspirin plus heparin vs aspirin alone, and reported incidence of myocardial infarction or death were included in the meta-analysis.


METHODS
Patient outcomes including MI or death, recurrent ischemic pain, and major bleeding during randomized treatment; revascularization procedures after randomization; and MI or death during the 2 to 12 weeks following randomization were extracted by 2 authors, 1 of whom was blinded to the journal, institution, and author of each study.


RESULTS
Six randomized trials were included. The overall summary relative risk (RR) of MI or death during randomized treatment was 0.67 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.44-1.02) in patients with unstable angina treated with aspirin plus heparin compared with those treated with aspirin alone. The summary RRs for secondary endpoints in patients treated with aspirin plus heparin compared with those treated with aspirin alone were 0.68 (95% CI, 0.40-1.17) for recurrent ischemic pain; 0.82 (95% CI, 0.56-1.20) for MI or death 2 to 12 weeks following randomization; 1.03 (95% CI, 0.74-1.43) for revascularization; and 1.99 (95% CI, 0.52-7.65) for major bleeding. We found no statistically significant heterogeneity among individual study findings.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings are consistent with a 33% reduction in risk of MI or death in patients with unstable angina treated with aspirin plus heparin compared with those treated with aspirin alone. The bulk of evidence suggests that most patients with unstable angina should be treated with both heparin and aspirin.
Oler
A
A
Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, USA.
Whooley
M A
MA
Oler
J
J
Grady
D
D
D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006470:Hemorrhage; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012008:Recurrence; D012306:Risk; D015996:Survival Rate
D006493:Heparin; D001241:Aspirin