Aims: We conducted a prespecified subanalysis of the POEM trial to assess the association between sex and clinical outcomes following a short 1-month dual-antiplatelet-therapy (DAPT) period after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with bioresorbable polymer everolimus-eluting stent (BP-EES) among patients at high bleeding risk (HBR).
Background: Shortening the DAPT period after PCI is an effective bleeding avoidance strategy with contemporary drug-eluting stents. Whether sex affects the risk of adverse events following PCI is still debated.
Methods: Patients at HBR undergoing PCI with BP-EES were enrolled and treated with 1-month DAPT. If anticoagulation was needed, study participants received an oral anticoagulant (OAC) in addition to a P2Y12 inhibitor for 1 month, followed by OAC only thereafter. The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, or definite/probable stent thrombosis at 12 months. We report sex-based outcomes of patients included in the POEM study.
Results: We enrolled 129 (29.1%) women and 314 (70.9%) men. Women were older, with lower hemoglobin levels, and worse renal function. Accordingly, they had a trend for a greater number of HBR criteria fulfilled and a higher PARIS bleeding score. However, they were not at a significantly higher risk for the primary endpoint (men vs. women: 5.17% vs. 3.94%; HR 1.30; 95% CI: 0.48-3.54, p = 0.61), or any of the hemorrhagic and ischemic secondary endpoints.
Conclusions: This prespecified subanalysis of the POEM trial suggests that 1-month DAPT following PCI with BP-EES may be a safe and effective therapeutic strategy for women at HBR.
Keywords: biodegradable polymer; high bleeding risk; percutaneous coronary intervention; sex; short DAPT; women.
© 2024 The Author(s). Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.