title: Patterns of aspirin dosing in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes in the CRUSADE Quality Improvement Initiative.
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.
authors.affiliation: Bridgeport Hospital, Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: Sumit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tickoo
authors.forename: Matthew T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Roe
authors.forename: Eric D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milford-Beland
authors.forename: E Magnus
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Ohman
authors.forename: W Brian
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Gibler
authors.forename: Charles V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Pollack
authors.forename: Christopher P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Cannon
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000188:drug therapy; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000592:standards; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013577:Syndrome; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D013988:Ticlopidine; D001241:Aspirin