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Antiplatelet Drug Use (antiplatelet + drug_use)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

Antiplatelet drug use preceding the onset of intracerebral hemorrhage is associated with increased mortality

FUNDAMENTAL & CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 3 2007
Karine Lacut
Abstract Recent studies highlight the contribution of antiplatelet therapy to clinical severity and increased mortality of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) but results are discrepant. The aim of this report was to evaluate the association between antiplatelet drug use preceding the onset of ICH and the mortality, assessed at regular intervals, among patients with acute ICH. We analyzed data from a randomized study which enrolled consecutive patients with a documented acute ICH to evaluate the efficacy of intermittent pneumatic compression of the legs in venous thrombosis prevention. Clinical characteristics and treatment used before the onset of ICH were checked at the time of inclusion. Mortality was assessed at regular intervals until 3 months after ICH diagnosis. Among 138 patients included in this report, 30 were current users of antiplatelet therapy at the time of ICH; they were significantly older and less frequently heavy drinkers than non-users of antiplatelet drugs. Mortality rates were 20% at 8 days, 40% at 1 month, and 47% at 3 months among antiplatelet drug users compared with 6.5%, 13% and 19% among non-users. The corresponding estimated risks for mortality related to antiplatelet drug use were 3.6 (95% CI 1.1,12), 4.5 (95% CI 1.8,11), and 3.6 (95% CI 1.5,8.6). Adjusted for age, hypertension and alcohol over use, antiplatelet therapy remained significantly associated with an increased mortality rate of acute ICH. Current antiplatelet drug use preceding the onset of ICH is associated with increased short-term ICH mortality, independently of age. [source]

Attitudes to prescription of antiplatelet drugs by diabetes health workers

PRACTICAL DIABETES INTERNATIONAL (INCORPORATING CARDIABETES), Issue 8 2007
A Woodward RN, MPhill Diabetes Specialist Nurse
Abstract The aim of this survey was to explore the attitudes to antiplatelet drug use amongst a group of UK diabetes specialist medical and nursing personnel. A postal questionnaire survey was circulated to all consultant diabetologists, specialist registrars in diabetes and diabetes specialist nurses working in the Mersey Deanery area. Seventy-eight questionnaires were sent out, 63 (81%) returned. The perceived use of antiplatelet therapy was significantly higher for type 2 diabetes compared with type 1 diabetes, especially in the absence of complications or cardiovascular risk factors (52% vs 21%, p = 0.0004). Responses were more variable for type 1 diabetes: more nurses than doctors advised antiplatelet drugs in the absence of risk factors (46% vs 5%, p = 0.0002) and in the presence of smoking (79% vs 51%, p = 0.034). Aspirin was first-line choice of antiplatelet drug; clopidogrel was generally used for gastric intolerance and aspirin allergy. We conclude that the combination of limited evidence base and imprecise guidelines is not favouring proper usage of antiplatelet drugs and that more evidence-based didactic guidelines are required. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons. [source]