title: Southern Saskatchewan Ticagrelor Registry experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As ticagrelor enters into clinical use for acute coronary syndrome, it is important to understand patient/physician behavior in terms of appropriate use, adherence, and event rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Southern Saskatchewan Ticagrelor Registry is a prospective, observational, multicenter cohort study that identifies consecutive patients started on ticagrelor. We aimed to evaluate both on- and off-label use, identify characteristics of patients who prematurely stop ticagrelor, and describe patient/physician behavior contributing to inappropriate stoppage of this medication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From April 2012 to September 2013, 227 patients were initiated on ticagrelor, with a mean age of 62.2±12.1 years. The participants were 66% men and had a mean follow up of 157.4±111.7 days. Seventy-four patients (32.4%) had off-label indications. Forty-seven patients (20.7%) prematurely stopped ticagrelor and were more likely to be older, women, nonwhite, present with shock, and complain of dyspnea. Twenty-six of the 47 patients stopped ticagrelor inappropriately because of patient nonadherence (18 patients) and physician advice (eight patients). A composite outcome event of death from vascular causes, myocardial infarction, or stroke occurred in 8.8% of the entire cohort and was more likely to occur in those older then 65 years, those presenting with cardiogenic shock, and those who prematurely stopped ticagrelor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this real-world registry of patients started on ticagrelor, a third have off-label indications and a fifth prematurely stop the medication. Premature discontinuation was an independent predictor of major life-threatening bleeding and increased composite event rate of death from vascular causes, myocardial infarction, or stroke.
authors.affiliation: Prairie Vascular Research Network, University of Saskatchewan, Regina, SK, Canada.
authors.forename: Payam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dehghani
authors.affiliation: Prairie Vascular Research Network, University of Saskatchewan, Regina, SK, Canada.
authors.forename: Varun
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chopra
authors.affiliation: Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region, Regina, SK, Canada.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Prairie Vascular Research Network, University of Saskatchewan, Regina, SK, Canada.
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region, Regina, SK, Canada.
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zulyniak
authors.affiliation: Prairie Vascular Research Network, University of Saskatchewan, Regina, SK, Canada.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Booker
authors.affiliation: Prairie Vascular Research Network, University of Saskatchewan, Regina, SK, Canada.
authors.forename: Rodney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.affiliation: Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region, Regina, SK, Canada.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Semchuk
authors.affiliation: St Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Asim N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Cheema
authors.affiliation: Prairie Vascular Research Network, University of Saskatchewan, Regina, SK, Canada.
authors.forename: Andrea J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lavoie
keywords: acute coronary syndrome; adherence; antiplatelets; compliance; registry; ticagrelor