Antithrombotic therapy according to baseline bleeding risk in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: applying the PRECISE-DAPT score in RE-DUAL PCI

Aims Patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing coronary intervention are at higher bleeding risk due to the concomitant need for oral anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy. The RE-DUAL PCI trial demonstrated better safety with dual antithrombotic therapy (DAT: dabigatran 110 or 150 mg b.i.d., clopidogrel or ticagrelor) compared to triple antithrombotic therapy (TAT: warfarin, clopidogrel or ticagrelor, and aspirin). We explored the impact of baseline bleeding risk based on the PRECISE-DAPT score for decision-making regarding DAT vs. TAT. Methods and results A score >= 25 points qualified high bleeding risk (HBR). Comparisons were made for the primary safety endpoint International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis major or clinically relevant non-major bleeding, and the composite efficacy endpoint of death, thrombo-embolic events, or unplanned revascularization, analysed by time-to-event analysis. PRECISE-DAPT was available in 2336/2725 patients, and 37.9% were HBR. Compared to TAT, DAT with dabigatran 110 mg reduced bleeding risk both in non-HBR [hazard ratio (HR) 0.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.31-0.57] and HBR (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.52-0.94), with a greater magnitude of benefit among non-HBR (P-int = 0.02). Dual antithrombotic therapy with dabigatran 150 mg vs. TAT reduced bleeding in non-HBR (HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.45-0.80), with a trend toward less benefit in HBR patients (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.63-1.34; P-int = 0.08). The risk of ischaemic events was similar on DAT with dabigatran (both 110 and 150 mg) vs. TAT in non-HBR and HBR patients (P-int = 0.45 and P-int = 0.56, respectively). Conclusions PRECISE-DAPT score appeared useful to identify AF patients undergoing PCI at further increased risk of bleeding complications and may help clinicians identifying the antithrombotic regimen intensity with the best benefit-risk ratio in an individual patient.