Duration of dual antiplatelet therapy in patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention for coronary chronic total occlusion

Background The duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after drug-eluting stent implantation in coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) remains unclear. Methods We retrospectively analyzed a total of 512 patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the Samsung Medical Center CTO registry. Patients were separated into ≤ 12-month (199, 38.9%) vs. > 12 month (313, 61.1%) based on DAPT duration with aspirin and clopidogrel. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event (MACCE) during follow-up. Results Median follow-up duration was 67 (interquartile range: 51–84) months. MACCE occurred in 43 patients (21.6%) in the ≤ 12-month and 55 patients (17.6%) in the > 12-month groups. In the propensity-matched population, the rate of MACCE did not differ significantly between the ≤ 12-month and > 12-month group (19.4% vs. 18.8%; hazard ratio [HR], 0.95; 95% confidential interval [CI], 0.52–1.76, p = 0.88). Moreover, moderate or severe bleeding according to BARC criteria (type 2, 3 or 5) was also similar between the ≤ 12-month and > 12-month group (2.5% vs. 1.9%; HR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.20–4.96, p = 0.99). Conclusion Among patients treated with PCI for CTO, DAPT with durations of ≤ 12-month showed similar long-term clinical outcomes compared to > 12-month DAPT.