Short- versus long-term dual antiplatelet therapy after second-generation drug-eluting stent implantation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background: The optimal dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) duration after second-generation drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation remains unclear. We aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of short-term (<= 6 months) and long-term (>= 12 months) DAPT after second-generation DES implantation. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, the Embase and ClinicalTrials.gov in the English language. The endpoints included all-cause mortality, cardiac death, non-cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), stent thrombosis (ST), stroke, all bleeding, and major bleeding. The effect estimate was expressed by using the hazard ratio (HR) with 95% CI and random effect models. Results: Seven RCTs with 13,571 patients were included in this study. In terms of survival endpoints, there was no significant difference in all-cause mortality (HR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.71-1.17), cardiac death (HR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.67-1.29), and non-cardiac death (HR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.62-1.28) in the 2 groups. Moreover, there was no significant difference in ischemic outcomes, including MI (HR: 1.15; 95% CI: 0.91-1.45), ST (HR: 1.11; 95% CI: 0.75-1.66), and stroke (HR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.53-1.35) in the 2 groups. In terms of bleeding endpoints, there was no significant difference in all bleeding (HR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.64-1.04) and major bleeding (HR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.49-1.36) in the 2 groups. The subgroup analysis showed that the proportion of patients with acute coronary syndrome was not associated with the benefit of long-term versus short-term DAPT. Conclusion: Short-term DAPT is not inferior to long-term DAPT in patients implanted with second-generation DES.