Efficacy and safety of dual versus mono antiplatelet therapy in patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack: An updated meta-analysis of 18 randomized controlled trials

The optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) as a routine treatment in stroke patients is still controversial. The efficacy and safety of DAPT may vary with different regiments, initiating treatment time and race. Our study assessed the efficacy and safety of DAPT in patients with stroke and to determine the factors influencing the efficacy and safety of DAPT. Relevant studies published up to May 2019 from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library. Randomized controlled trials comparing DAPT with mono antiplatelet therapy (MAPT) for stroke secondary prevention were included. The primary endpoints were stroke recurrence, ischemic stroke recurrence and all-cause death. Subgroup analysis was made according to regiment, initiating treatment time and race. Eighteen studies (n=33353) were included. Comparing with MAPT, short-term DAPT reduced stroke recurrence (RR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.60-0.77) and ischemic stroke recurrence (RR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.59-0.77) but increased major bleeding (RR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.11-2.98). Long-term DAPT had no superiority compared with MAPT. Aspirin plus clopidogrel comparing with aspirin and early initiating treatment time comparing with MAPT decreased stroke recurrence (RR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.67-0.83; RR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.61-0.78) and ischemic stroke recurrence ( RR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.64-0.79; RR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.59-0.77) but also increased major bleeding (RR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.38-2.09; RR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.07-2.85). DAPT reduced stroke and ischemic stroke recurrence in non-Asian group but only reduced ischemic stroke recurrence in Asian group. As stroke secondary prevention, short-term DAPT rather than long-term DAPT could be a better choice. Patients could benefit more from aspirin plus clopidogrel or given DAPT within 72 h after symptoms onset. Race may be a factor influencing the efficacy of DAPT.