BACKGROUND: Antithrombotic strategies after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in elderly patients on oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) are debated due to the balance between ischemic and bleeding risks. Recent guidelines recommend early transitioning from triple antithrombotic therapy to dual antithrombotic therapy, but there are limited data on elderly patients. METHODS: We performed a post-hoc age-specific analysis of the PERSEO Registry population aimed to compare clinical features, therapeutic strategies, and outcomes of individuals aged ≥ 80 years and < 80 years who were on OAT and underwent PCI with stent. The primary endpoint was net adverse clinical events at 1-year follow-up. Secondary endpoints included major adverse cardiac and cerebral events (MACCE), major bleeding [Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) type 3-5], and clinically relevant bleeding (BARC type 2-5). RESULTS: Among the 1234 patients enrolled, 31% of patients were aged ≥ 80 years (84 ± 3 years, 76% males). Compared to younger patients, elderly patients had higher rates of comorbidities such as hypertension, anaemia or chronic kidney disease, and atrial fibrillation was the leading indication for OAT. Elderly patients were more often discharged on dual antithrombotic therapy (23%) compared to younger patients (13%) (P < 0.0001). They experienced higher net adverse clinical events (38% vs. 21%, P < 0.001), MACCE (24% vs. 12%, P < 0.001), as well as higher bleeding rates. Specifically, rates of major bleeding (9% vs. 6%, P = 0.026), and clinically relevant bleeding (21% vs. 12%, P < 0.001) were significantly higher in elderly patients. CONCLUSIONS Elderly patients on OAT undergoing PCI are a particular frail population with higher risk of MACCE and bleeding compared to younger patients despite a less aggressive antithrombotic therapy.

BackgroundTriple therapy (TT) with vitamin K-antagonists (VKA),aspirin and clopidogrel is the recommended antithrombotic treatment following percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation (PCI-S) in patients with an indication for oral anticoagulation.TT is associated with an increased risk of bleeding,but available evidence is flawed by important limitations,including the limited size and the retrospective design of most of the studies,as well as the rare reporting of the incidence of in-hospital bleeding and the treatment which was actually ongoing at the time of bleeding.Since the perceived high bleeding risk of TT may deny patients effective strategies,the determination of the true safety profile of TT is of paramount importance.MethodsAll the 27 published studies where the incidence of bleeding at various time points during follow-up has been reported separately for patients on TT were reviewed,and the weakness of the data was analyzed.ResultsThe absolute incidence of major bleeding upon discharge at in-hospital,＜ 1 month,6 months,12 months and ≥ 12months was: 3.3％ ± 1.9％,5.1％ ± 6.7％,8.0％ ± 5.2％,9.0％ ± 8.0,and 6.2％ ± 7.8％,respectively,and not substantially different from that observed in previous studies with prolonged dual antiplatelet treatment with aspirin and clopidogrel.ConclusionsWhile waiting for the ongoing,large-scale,registries and clinical trials to clarify the few facts and to answer the many questions regarding the risk of bleeding of TT,this treatment should not be denied to patients with an indication for VKA undergoing PCI-S provided that the proper measures and cautions are implemented.