Optimal anti-platelet therapy for older patients with acute coronary syndrome: a network meta-analysis of randomized trials comprising 59,284 older patients.

The aim of this study was to identify the optimal anti-platelet therapy in older acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with a mean age ≥ 60 years by comparing the efficacy and safety of different anti-platelet therapies. The selection of antiplatelet therapy in older patients with ACS is a clinical challenge. Numerous evidences indicate that the de-escalation of dual anti-platelet therapy (DAPT) or P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy may reduce bleeding risk without increasing thrombotic events. However, there is a lack of systematic reviews and optimal strategy analysis regarding older ACS patients. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of anti-platelet therapy in older ACS patients were identified. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included all death, cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, stent thrombosis, and trial-defined major bleeding. Frequentist and Bayesian network meta-analyses were conducted. Treatments were ranked on posterior probability. Summary odds ratios (ORs) were estimated using Bayesian network meta-analysis. A total of 12 RCTs including 59,284 older ACS patients treated with five anti-platelet strategies were included. Ticagrelor monotherapy after 3 months DAPT was comparable to the other strategies (OR 0.73; 95% CI 0.32-1.6) in terms of MACE risk. Additionally, P score analysis and SUCRA Bayesian analysis showed that it was the most beneficial treatment for all deaths, cardiovascular death and revascularization. For safety, although there was no significant difference in direct comparisons, both SUCRA Bayesian (0.806) and P score (0.519) analysis suggested that ticagrelor monotherapy was the safest strategy. The current evidence demonstrated that ticagrelor monotherapy after 3 months DAPT may be a promising approach for achieving a more favorable balance between risk and benefit for older ACS patients, with a relatively low bleeding risk and without an increased risk of MACE events. Moreover, it remains the preferred option for clinical outcomes such as all death, CV death and revascularization. Further high-quality and long-term studies are required to validate anti-platelet therapies among older ACS patients.