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Real-World Antiplatelet Use and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease Following Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Descriptive Cohort Study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) experience disproportionately high ischemic and bleeding risks following acute coronary syndrome (ACS), yet remain markedly underrepresented in randomized trials of antiplatelet therapy. Consequently, real-world data describing antiplatelet prescribing patterns and clinical outcomes in this population are limited. Objectives: To describe real-world antiplatelet use and 12-month clinical outcomes in patients with advanced CKD and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) following ACS. Methods: We conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort study including adults with advanced CKD (stage 4–5) or dialysis-dependent ESRD hospitalized with ACS and discharged on dual antiplatelet therapy. Baseline characteristics, revascularization strategies, and clinical outcomes were collected. Outcomes of interest included all-cause mortality, recurrent ischemic events (recurrent myocardial infarction, stroke or transient ischemic attack, or repeat revascularization), and bleeding events defined by Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) criteria over 12 months. All analyses were descriptive in nature. Results: A total of 222 patients were included; clopidogrel was prescribed in 96.0% of patients and ticagrelor in 4.0%. The cohort was elderly, highly comorbid, and predominantly dialysis-dependent. At 12 months, all-cause mortality occurred in approximately one-third of patients, recurrent ischemic events were frequent, and bleeding complications were common. Most bleeding events occurred in dialysis-dependent individuals. Outcomes among ticagrelor-treated patients are reported descriptively only due to the very small sample size. Conclusions: In this real-world cohort of patients with advanced CKD and ESRD following ACS, a substantial burden of mortality, recurrent ischemic events, and bleeding complications was observed, underscoring the narrow therapeutic window in this high-risk population. These findings are descriptive and hypothesis-generating, supporting the need for individualized antiplatelet strategies and prospective studies specifically enrolling patients with advanced CKD.

Source: Journal of Clinical Medicine

DOI: 10.3390/jcm15083167

Authors: Lama Alfehaid, Eman Alzahrani, Amani Alsubaie, Majed Almutairi, Mansour Alomran, Saleh Alghadeer

Institutions: King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz Medical City, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center

Language: English

Topic: Antiplatelet Therapy and Cardiovascular Diseases

Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137