The use of ticagrelor versus clopidogrel in Malaysian patients with coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI): Does the age tertile affect the platelet reactivity?

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Previous studies have shown that the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases is related to the patient's age and gender differences, but the effect of age on platelet function remains controversial. Platelet function should be tested and its efficacy correlates with the age of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using vasodilator-associated stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP). VASP is a gold standard to assess P2Y12 receptor inhibition among patients using ticagrelor or clopidogrel. Purpose We sought to compare the effect of ticagrelor versus clopidogrel on the platelet function of patients undergoing PCI and the correlation of age in this effect. Method This study was a prospective, randomized, parallel design, an open-label investigation conducted on Malaysian patients undergoing PCI. It included 84 patients (40 patients taking ticagrelor, and 44 patients taking clopidogrel). The induced platelet reactivity was assessed by measuring total whole blood at one standardized time point after 4 hours of loading dose of ticagrelor 180 mg or clopidogrel with 600 mg and by age tertiles. Result The study population consisted of 23 (57.5%) patients in Tertile 1 <60 years of age, 11 (27.5%) patients in Tertile 2 between 60-70 years of age and 6 (15.0%) patients in Tertile 3 >70 years of age. The number of patients who used ticagrelor was 17 (38.64%) in Tertile 1, 21 (47.73%) in Tertile 2, and 6 (13.64%) in Tertile 3 of those who used clopidogrel. The results of platelet reactivity index was high in the patients who used clopidogrel compared to the ticagrelor group, which were 52.3% and 2.5 %, P <0.001. This effect in the clopidogrel group included all age groups without exception and at different rates (52.9%, 52.4%, and 50%, P= 0.992), respectively, but this effect was numerical and not statistically significant. In contrast to the ticagrelor group, no numerical or significant effect was observed in all age groups (4.3%, 0.0%, and 0.0%, P= 0.259), respectively (Figure 1). In addition, the results of the current cross-sectional age classification study showed no statistical differences between the clopidogrel and ticagrelor groups based on non high platelet reactivity (NHPR) (P = 0.284, P = 0.270, P = 0.796 respectively) (Figure2). Conclusion Our study showed that age could not be considered a risk factor in the Malaysian population, as it did not significantly affect platelet aggregation in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).