This double-blind study included 21162 patients with a history of acute myocardial infarction randomized to ticagrelor 90 mg e/12 h, ticagrelor 60 mg e/12 h or placebo. All patients received aspirin and had additional risk factors such as age or diabetes. The history of infarction should be between one and three years before being included in the work. Overall, the results showed that receiving ticagrelor plus aspirin reduced the rate of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke.

The group receiving 90 mg reduced the risk of a second event by 15% and the group receiving 60 mg reduced it by 16% compared to placebo. The ticagrelor increased the risk of major bleeding but not fatal or intracerebral bleeding. Bleeding and other adverse effects tended to be less frequent in the group receiving 60 mg.

Marc Steven Sabatine
2015-03-16

Original title: Adding Ticagrelor to Aspirin Regime Shown to Cut Risk of Second Cardiac Event