Why some patients need blood thinners for a longer time for heart health

Blood thinners are essential medications for many people who have undergone a procedure called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

This procedure is done to open blocked arteries in the heart.

During PCI, doctors often place a small device called a stent to keep the artery open and allow blood to flow properly.

Blood thinners help prevent clots from forming in or around the stent, which can block blood flow and cause serious complications like heart attacks.

Even though these medications are life-saving, deciding how long a patient should stay on more than one blood thinner has been a challenge for doctors.

To address this, researchers conducted a detailed study to understand who might benefit from extended use of multiple blood thinners.

They based their investigation on the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines, which are widely followed by heart specialists.

Understanding the ESC Guidelines

The ESC guidelines recommend that patients with certain high-risk conditions might benefit from longer treatment with more than one blood thinner after PCI. These conditions include:

A history of heart attack.
Diabetes.
Chronic kidney disease.
Severe coronary artery disease.

Patients with these conditions are more likely to experience problems such as blood clots or blockages in the arteries after their procedure.

What the Study Looked At

The study reviewed medical records of over 11,000 patients who had PCI between 2012 and 2019 at a large hospital. Researchers grouped the patients into three categories: low, medium, and high risk for clotting issues. These categories were based on the ESC criteria.

The team then looked at how many patients in each group experienced serious heart-related problems, such as heart attacks, strokes, or death, within one year after their procedure. They also examined cases of major bleeding, which is a known side effect of blood thinners.

Key Findings

The results showed that patients in the moderate- and high-risk groups were more likely to suffer from major heart problems compared to those in the low-risk group.

These problems included higher rates of death from any cause and heart attacks. However, there was a trade-off: patients in the high-risk group also had a greater chance of experiencing severe bleeding.

This highlights the importance of carefully balancing the benefits and risks of extended blood thinner use. Doctors need to ensure that the medication helps prevent life-threatening clots without causing excessive bleeding.

The Shift Toward Personalized Treatment

Dr. George Dangas, the lead author of the study, explained that this research is a step toward tailoring treatment plans for individual patients. I

nstead of a one-size-fits-all approach, doctors can use tools like the ESC guidelines to identify which patients are most likely to benefit from long-term use of multiple blood thinners.

By focusing on the specific needs and risks of each patient, doctors can improve care and outcomes for people recovering from PCI. This personalized approach could help prevent serious heart issues while minimizing the risk of side effects.

In conclusion, this study emphasizes the importance of evaluating each patient’s unique situation when deciding on blood thinner treatment after PCI.

By combining clinical experience with evidence-based guidelines, medical professionals can make better decisions that save lives and improve long-term health.

If you care about heart disease, please read studies about a big cause of heart failure, and common blood test could advance heart failure treatment.

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