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Summary
Background Current guidelines recommend dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) of aspirin plus a P2Y12 inhibitor for at least Published Online
12 months after implantation of drug-eluting stents (DES) in patients with acute coronary syndrome. However, available March 12, 2018
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/
data about the optimal duration of DAPT in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary S0140-6736(18)30493-8
intervention are scant. We aimed to investigate whether a 6-month duration of DAPT would be non-inferior to the See Online/Comment
conventional 12-month or longer duration of DAPT in this population. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/
S0140-6736(18)30612-3
Methods We did a randomised, open-label, non-inferiority trial at 31 centres in South Korea. Patients were eligible if they *Contributed equally
had unstable angina, non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, or ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, †All SMART-DATE investigators
and underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. Enrolled patients were randomly assigned, via a web-based system are listed at the end of the Article
by computer-generated block randomisation, to either the 6-month DAPT group or to the 12-month or longer DAPT Division of Cardiology,
Department of Medicine,
group, with stratification by site, clinical presentation, and diabetes. Assessors were masked to treatment allocation. The
Samsung Medical Center,
primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, or stroke at 18 months after the index Sungkyunkwan University
procedure in the intention-to-treat population. Secondary endpoints were the individual components of the primary School of Medicine, Seoul,
endpoint; definite or probable stent thrombosis as defined by the Academic Research Consortium; and Bleeding South Korea (Prof J-Y Hahn MD,
Y B Song MD, J Kim MD,
Academic Research Consortium (BARC) type 2–5 bleeding at 18 months after the index procedure. The primary endpoint
K H Choi MD, T K Park MD,
was also analysed per protocol. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01701453. J M Lee MD, J H Yang MD,
Prof J-H Choi MD,
Findings Between Sept 5, 2012, and Dec 31, 2015, we randomly assigned 2712 patients; 1357 to the 6-month DAPT group Prof S-H Choi MD,
Prof H-C Gwon MD); Samsung
and 1355 to the 12-month or longer DAPT group. Clopidogrel was used as a P2Y12 inhibitor for DAPT in
Changwon Hospital,
1082 (79·7%) patients in the 6-month DAPT group and in 1109 (81·8%) patients in the 12-month or longer DAPT group. Sungkyunkwan University
The primary endpoint occurred in 63 patients in the 6-month DAPT group and in 56 patients in the 12-month or longer School of Medicine, Changwon,
DAPT group (cumulative event rate 4·7% vs 4·2%; absolute risk difference 0·5%; upper limit of one-sided 95% CI 1·8%; South Korea (Prof J-H Oh MD);
Myongji Hospital, Goyang,
pnon-inferiority=0·03 with a predefined non-inferiority margin of 2·0%). Although all-cause mortality did not differ significantly
South Korea (D-K Cho MD);
between the 6-month DAPT group and the 12-month or longer DAPT group (35 [2·6%] patients vs 39 [2·9%]; hazard Daegu Catholic University
ratio [HR] 0·90 [95% CI 0·57–1·42]; p=0·90) and neither did stroke (11 [0·8%] patients vs 12 [0·9%]; 0·92 [0·41–2·08]; Medical Center, Daegu, South
p=0·84), myocardial infarction occurred more frequently in the 6-month DAPT group than in the 12-month or longer Korea (J B Lee MD); Inje
University Ilsan Paik Hospital,
DAPT group (24 [1·8%] patients vs ten [0·8%]; 2·41 [1·15–5·05]; p=0·02). 15 (1·1%) patients had stent thrombosis in the Goyang, South Korea
6-month DAPT group compared with ten (0·7%) in the 12-month or longer DAPT group (HR 1·50 [95% CI 0·68–3·35]; (Prof J-H Doh MD); Seoul
p=0·32). The rate of BARC type 2–5 bleeding was 2·7% (35 patients) in the 6-month DAPT group and 3·9% (51 patients) National University Boramae
in the 12-month or longer DAPT group (HR 0·69 [95% CI 0·45–1·05]; p=0·09). Results from the per-protocol analysis Medical Center, Seoul,
South Korea (Prof S-H Kim MD);
were similar to those from the intention-to-treat analysis. Chungnam National University
Hospital, Daejeon, South Korea
Interpretation The increased risk of myocardial infarction with 6-month DAPT and the wide non-inferiority margin (Prof J-O Jeong MD); Konyang
prevent us from concluding that short-term DAPT is safe in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing University Hospital, Daejon,
South Korea (Prof J-H Bae MD);
percutaneous coronary intervention with current-generation DES. Prolonged DAPT in patients with acute coronary Inje University Sanggye Paik
syndrome without excessive risk of bleeding should remain the standard of care. Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
(Prof B-O Kim MD); St Carollo
Funding Abbott Vascular Korea, Medtronic Vascular Korea, Biosensors Inc, and Dong-A ST. General Hospital, Suncheon,
South Korea (J H Cho MD); SAM
Medical Center, Anyang,
Introduction Association (ACC/AHA)3 and European Society of South Korea (I-W Suh MD); Inje
Patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome have a Cardiology (ESC) guidelines4 recommend dual antiplatelet University Haeundae Paik
higher risk of recurrent ischaemic events than do those therapy (DAPT) of aspirin plus a P2Y12 inhibitor for Hospital, Busan, South Korea
(Prof D-i Kim MD); Seoul
with stable ischaemic heart disease.1,2 Therefore, standard 12 months or longer in patients with acute coronary Veterans Hospital, Seoul, South
American College of Cardiology/American Heart syndrome unless there are contraindications such as Korea (H-K Park); Yeungnam
excessive risk of bleeding. However, the optimal duration treatment,8–10 re-exploration of the optimal or minimal
of DAPT in patients with acute coronary syndrome necessary duration of DAPT in patients with acute
undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention remains coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary
controversial. Of several studies referenced in the intervention is challenging. Several observational studies
ACC/AHA and ESC guidelines, the PCI-CURE study, and posthoc analyses have reported conflicting results
a substudy of the CURE trial, has been cited as the about the safety of 6-month DAPT in patients with acute
most important and direct evidence in support of pro coronary syndrome.11–13 In a recent network meta-analysis
longed DAPT in patients with acute coronary syndrome of six randomised trials, 6-month DAPT was not associated
undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.5 How with higher rates of myocardial infarction or stent
ever, the PCI-CURE study compared the efficacy of DAPT thrombosis after DES implantation in patients with acute
versus aspirin monotherapy rather than the optimal coronary syndrome.14 However, most enrolled patients had
duration of DAPT in patients with acute coronary a relatively low risk and the proportion of patients with
syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary inter myocardial infarction was low, at about 10%. Therefore, we
vention. Moreover, since the PCI-CURE study was done sought to investigate whether a reduced 6-month duration
nearly 20 years ago, direct application of its results to of DAPT would be non-inferior to the conventional
contemporary clinical practice is difficult. 12-month or longer duration of DAPT at 18 months after
Considering the improved safety and efficacy of current-generation DES implantation in patients with a
drug-eluting stents (DES)6,7 and advances in medical broad spectrum of acute coronary syndrome.
bleeding or for other procedures were monitored The primary analysis was done according to an intention-
carefully for cardiac events and, once stabilised, their to-treat principle. The posthoc landmark analysis was done
antiplatelet therapy was restarted as soon as possible. with a landmark of P2Y12 inhibitor discontinuation at
An independent clinical event adjudication committee, 6 months among patients who were event-free at 6 months.
whose members were masked to the study group We also did a prespecified per-protocol analysis among
assignments, assessed all clinical endpoints. patients who adhered to the study protocol (as a sensitivity
analysis). For the study endpoints, we censored patients
Outcomes lost to follow-up and subsequently lost to assessment of
The primary endpoint was a composite of major adverse the primary endpoint when estimating Kaplan-Meier
cardiac and cerebrovascular events, defined as a composite event rates. Subgroup analyses were done to assess
of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, or stroke at the consistency of treatment effects of 6-month DAPT
18 months after the index procedure. Secondary endpoints compared with 12-month or longer DAPT on the major
were the individual components of the primary endpoint, adverse cardiac and cerebro vascular events. Predefined
cardiac death, a composite of cardiac death or myocardial subgroups were STEMI, diabetes, and type of P2Y12
infarction; definite or probable stent throm bosis as inhibitor (clopidogrel, prasugrel, or ticagrelor). A
defined by the Academic Research Consortium (ARC); posthoc analysis was done for age, sex, acute myocardial
and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) infarction, left ventricular ejection fraction, treated vessel,
type 2–5 bleeding at 18 months after the index procedure. and multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention. We
Major bleeding was defined as BARC type 3–5 bleeding. also did a posthoc subgroup analysis to assess the
Net adverse clinical and cerebral events were defined as consistency of treatment effects of 6-month DAPT
major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events plus compared with 12-month or longer DAPT on myocardial
BARC type 2–5 bleeding. infarction.
All deaths were considered cardiac unless a definite Categorical variables were presented as counts and
non-cardiac cause could be established. Myocardial percentages and compared by use of the χ² test or Fisher’s
infarction was defined as elevated cardiac enzymes exact test, as appropriate. Continuous variables were
(cardiac troponin or myocardial band fraction of creatine presented as means (SD) and compared with the Student’s
kinase) above the upper reference limit with ischaemic t test. Cumulative event rates were estimated with the
symptoms or electrocardiography findings indicative of Kaplan-Meier method and compared with log-rank tests.
ischaemia that was not related to the index procedure.16 Time from randomisation to occurrence of the first major
Stroke was defined as any non-convulsive focal or global adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events was used in the
neurological deficit of abrupt onset lasting more than survival analysis. For analyses of the primary and secondary
24 h or leading to death, which was caused by ischaemia endpoints, hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs were
or haemorrhage within the brain. Stent thrombosis estimated with the Cox proportional-hazards method. The
was defined as definite or probable stent thrombosis proportional hazards assumptions of the HR for 6-month
according to the ARC classification.16 BARC bleeding was DAPT compared with 12-month or longer DAPT in the
defined as previously reported.17 Cox proportional hazards models were graphically
inspected in the “log minus log” plot and were also
Statistical analysis confirmed with the Schoenfeld residual test. All Cox
The sample size was calculated for a non-inferiority proportional hazards models presented here met the
comparison of 6-month DAPT versus 12-month or assumption of proportional hazards. All p values and
longer DAPT for the primary endpoint of major adverse 95% CIs were two-tailed except for those given for non-
cardiac and cerebrovascular events. Based on event rates inferiority testing of the primary endpoint. All analyses
of patients with acute coronary syndrome in the were done with SAS, version 9.2.
EXCELLENT trial previously conducted by our group,18
we estimated that the event rate of the primary endpoint Role of the funding source
in both groups at 18 months after the index pro The sponsors of the study had no role in study design,
cedure would be 4·5%. A non-inferiority margin of data collection, site monitoring, data analysis, data
2·0% was chosen on the basis of the feasibility of study interpretation, or writing of the report. H-CG, J-YH, and
recruitment as well as the non-inferiority margin of YBS had full access to all the data in the study and
major trials.19,20 With a sampling ratio of 1:1 allowing for had final responsibility for the decision to submit for
2% attrition in each group during 18 months, we publication.
estimated that 2700 patients (1350 per group) would
result in at least 80% power at a one-sided type I error Results
of 5%. If the upper limit of the one-sided 95% CI of the Between Sept 5, 2012, and Dec 31, 2015, 2712 patients
difference was lower than the prespecified non- were enrolled. Of these, 1357 patients were randomly
inferiority margin, 6-month DAPT would be considered assigned to receive 6-month DAPT and 1355 were
to be non-inferior to 12-month or longer DAPT. randomly assigned to receive 12-month or longer DAPT
Follow-up for the primary endpoint was completed in Men 1016 (74·9%) 1028 (75·9%)
97·5% of all patients. At 18 months, the primary Women 341 (25·1%) 327 (24·1%)
endpoint of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular Mean BMI, kg/m² 24·3 (3·2) 24·5 (3·1)
events occurred in 63 patients in the 6-month DAPT Diabetes 365/1355 (26·9%) 379/1350 (28·1%)
group and in 56 patients in the 12-month DAPT group. Hypertension 669/1340 (49·9%) 654/1342 (48·7%)
Cumulative rates (Kaplan-Meier estimates) of major Dyslipidaemia 322/1329 (24·2%) 336/1332 (25·2%)
adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events at 18 months Current smokers 506/1333 (38·0%) 536/1335 (40·1%)
were 4·7% for the 6-month DAPT group and 4·2% for Previous myocardial 30/1328 (2·3%) 23/1334 (1·7%)
infarction
the 12-month or longer DAPT group. The non-inferiority
of the 6-month DAPT to 12-month or longer DAPT was Previous revascularisation 65/1320 (4·9%) 52/1328 (3·9%)
met (absolute risk difference 0·5%; upper limit of Cerebrovascular disease 52/1330 (3·9%) 58/1332 (4·4%)
one-sided 95% CI 1·8%; pnon-inferiority=0·03 with a Chronic renal failure 13/1327 (1·0%) 6/1328 (0·5%)
predefined non-inferiority margin of 2·0%; table 3; Mean left ventricular 55·5% (11·0) 55·4% (10·5)
ejection fraction
figure 2A). Although all-cause mortality did not differ
Clinical presentation
significantly between the two groups at 18 months
ST-elevation myocardial 509 (37·5%) 514 (37·9%)
(2·6% vs 2·9%; HR 0·90 [95% CI 0·57–1·42]; p=0·90; infarction
figure 2B), myocardial infarction occurred more Non-ST-elevation 428 (31·5%) 425 (31·4%)
frequently in the 6-month DAPT group than in the myocardial infarction
12-month or longer DAPT group (1·8% vs 0·8%; HR 2·41 Unstable angina 420 (31·0%) 416 (30·7%)
[95% CI 1·15–5·05]; p=0·02; figure 2C). Both non-target
Data are n (%), n/N (%), mean (SD), or median (IQR). Data are given for the
vessel myocardial infarction and target vessel myocardial
intention-to-treat population. DAPT=dual antiplatelet therapy.
infarction occurred more frequently in the 6-month BMI=body-mass index.
DAPT group than in the 12-month or longer DAPT
group (table 3). However, the risk of stent thrombosis Table 1: Baseline characteristics of patients
A B
10 12-month or longer DAPT 10
6-month DAPT
8 8
4 4
HR 0·90 (95% CI 0·57–1·42); p=0·90
2 2
0 0
0 3 6 9 12 15 18 0 3 6 9 12 15 18
Number at risk
(number censored)
12-month or longer DAPT 1355 1312 1299 1290 1283 1278 1043 1355 1320 1309 1302 1296 1292 1056
(0) (14) (5) (6) (0) (0) (230) (0) (14) (6) (6) (0) (0) (233)
6-month DAPT 1357 1318 1296 1271 1264 1255 1032 1357 1325 1306 1290 1285 1281 1055
(0) (17) (14) (12) (1) (1) (216) (0) (17) (14) (13) (1) (1) (220)
C D
10 10
8 8
BARC type 2–5 bleeding (%)
Myocardial infarction (%)
6 6
0 0
0 3 6 9 12 15 18 0 3 6 9 12 15 18
Time after initial procedure (months) Time after initial procedure (months)
Number at risk
(number censored)
12-month or longer DAPT 1355 1315 1303 1295 1289 1284 1049 1355 1307 1285 1271 1260 1251 1023
(0) (34) (10) (7) (6) (4) (234) (0) (33) (8) (8) (3) (4) (224)
6-month DAPT 1357 1321 1300 1277 1270 1263 1039 1357 1314 1286 1263 1257 1252 1034
(0) (29) (19) (15) (4) (4) (222) (0) (31) (18) (15) (3) (4) (216)
Figure 2: Time-to-event Kaplan-Meier curves for selected endpoints in the intention-to-treat population
(A) Primary endpoint of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). (B) All-cause death. (C) Myocardial infarction. (D) Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) type 2–5
bleeding. DAPT=dual antiplatelet therapy. HR=hazard ratio.
infarction was significantly higher in the 6-month DAPT than in the 12-month or longer group. In the posthoc
group than in the 12-month or longer DAPT group landmark analysis, major adverse cardiac and
(2·3% vs 0·5%; HR 4·27 [95% CI 1·61–11·32]; appendix). cerebrovascular events tended to occur more frequently
in the 6-month DAPT group than in the 12-month or
Discussion longer DAPT group, with a significant increase in
In this prospective, randomised trial, 6-month DAPT myocardial infarction between 6 months and 18 months
was shown to be non-inferior to 12-month or longer after the index percutaneous coronary intervention
DAPT for the primary endpoint of major adverse cardiac procedure. The risk of bleeding seemed to be lower in
and cerebrovascular events at 18 months after the index the 6-month DAPT group than in the 12-month or longer
procedure. However, the rate of myocardial infarction DAPT group, but the rate of major bleeding did not differ
was significantly higher in the 6-month DAPT group significantly between the two groups.
A B
10 12-month or longer DAPT 10
6-month DAPT
8 8
HR 0·83 (95% CI
4 0·51–1·35); 4
p=0·46 HR 0·80 (95% CI
HR 1·69 (95% CI
0·44–1·44);
0·97–2·94); HR 1·08 (95% CI
2 2 p=0·45
p=0·07 0·52–2·24);
p=0·84
0 0
0 3 6 9 12 15 18 0 3 6 9 12 15 18
Number at risk
(number
censored)
12-month or 1355 1312 1299 1290 1283 1278 1043 1355 1320 1309 1302 1296 1292 1056
longer DAPT (0) (14) (5) (6) (0) (0) (230) (0) (14) (6) (6) (0) (0) (233)
6-month DAPT 1357 1318 1296 1271 1264 1255 1032 1357 1325 1306 1290 1285 1281 1055
(0) (17) (14) (12) (1) (1) (216) (0) (17) (14) (13) (1) (1) (220)
C D
10 10
8 8
BARC type 2–5 bleeding (%)
Myocardial infarction (%)
6 6
4 4 HR 0·78 (95% CI
HR 1·28 (95% CI 0·45–1·37);
0·48–3·45); p=0·39 HR 0·57 (95% CI
HR 5·06 (95% CI
p=0·62 0·29–1·12);
2 1·46–17·47); 2
p=0·01 p=0·10
0 0
0 3 6 9 12 15 18 0 3 6 9 12 15 18
Time after initial procedure (months) Time after initial procedure (months)
Number at risk
(number
censored)
12-month or 1355 1315 1303 1295 1289 1284 1049 1355 1307 1285 1271 1260 1251 1023
longer DAPT (0) (34) (10) (7) (6) (4) (234) (0) (33) (8) (8) (3) (4) (224)
6-month DAPT 1357 1321 1300 1277 1270 1263 1039 1357 1314 1286 1263 1257 1252 1034
(0) (29) (19) (15) (4) (4) (222) (0) (31) (18) (15) (3) (4) (216)
Despite advances in treatment for coronary heart disease coronary intervention,3,4 the available data are scant. In the
over several decades, patients with acute coronary PCI-CURE study, sustained DAPT was beneficial in
syndrome carry a higher risk of recurrent ischaemic reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events.5
events than do those with stable ischaemic heart disease.1,2 However, several important issues must be considered:
Benefits of prolonged DAPT might be more prominent in the average duration of follow-up after percutaneous
patients with acute coronary syndrome than in those with coronary intervention was only 8 months; the duration of
stable ischaemic heart disease. However, prolonged DAPT DAPT in the clopidogrel group varied from 3 months to
increases bleeding and has been associated with increased 12 months; and the duration of DAPT in the control group
mortality in several studies.21,22 Therefore, to improve was only 1 month without preprocedural loading of
outcomes for patients with acute coronary syndrome, clopidogrel. Therefore, the PCI-CURE study does not
defining the optimal or minimal necessary duration of support prolonged duration of DAPT for 12 months or
DAPT is of great importance. Although major guidelines longer, but supports DAPT per se in patients with acute
recommend DAPT for 12 months or longer in patients coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary
with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous intervention. In the PEGASUS-TIMI 54 trial,23 treatment
with ticagrelor significantly reduced the risk of excellent outcomes with short duration of DAPT in
cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke in selected populations.24–26 Meanwhile, non-target vessel
patients with previous myocardial infarction. However, myocardial infarction occurred four times more
patients were a selected population who had myocardial frequently in the 6-month DAPT group than in the
infarction more than 1 year previously and were at 12-month or longer DAPT group in the present study.
high risk, making it difficult to directly apply the results of A previous study reported that major adverse cardio
the PEGASUS-TIMI 54 trial to patients with acute vascular events occurring during follow-up were equally
coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary attributable to recurrence at the site of culprit lesions
intervention within 6 months. Therefore, we believe the and non-culprit lesions after percutaneous coronary
findings of the SMART-DATE study, which compared intervention.27 Three-vessel intravascular ultrasound
6-month DAPT with 12-month or longer DAPT in patients imaging showed that secondary remote plaque ruptures
with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous and multiple plaque ruptures as well as culprit lesion
coronary intervention with current-generation DES, can plaque rupture were all more common in patients with
provide valuable insight into the optimal DAPT duration myocardial infarction than in those with stable ischaemic
in this population. heart disease.28 Taken together, these results suggest that
In the present study, the non-inferiority of 6-month prolonged DAPT might reduce the risk of myocardial
DAPT compared with 12-month or longer DAPT was met. infarction by prevention of non-target vessel myocardial
However, the non-inferiority margin of 2·0% seemed to infarction rather than by reduction of stent thrombosis
be wide considering that the actual rate of the primary in patients with acute coronary syndrome.
endpoint was 4·2% with 12-month or longer DAPT, In the SMART-DATE study, clopidogrel instead of
although the non-inferiority margin of major trials was prasugrel or ticagrelor was predominantly used as a P2Y12
similar to or even wider than that of our study.19,20 inhibitor for DAPT. Although we found no significant
Moreover, the upper limit of the one-sided 95% CI of the interaction between the treatment effect of the two DAPT
difference in the rate of major adverse cardiac and regimens and type of P2Y12 inhibitor, predominant use of
cerebrovascular events was 1·8%, which was very close to clopidogrel might have biased our findings towards non-
the predefined non-inferiority margin. Notably, we found inferiority of 6-month DAPT because prasugrel and
a significant increase in myocardial infarction in the ticagrelor showed superior outcomes compared with
6-month DAPT group, especially between 6 months and clopidogrel in patients with acute coronary syndrome
18 months after the index percutaneous coronary undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. The
intervention procedure when actual treatment differed observed difference in myocardial infarction between the
between the two groups. Therefore, we cannot conclude two groups might have been greater with more frequent
that short-term DAPT is safe in patients with acute use of prasugrel or ticagrelor. Nonetheless, clopidogrel is
coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary still prescribed in a substantial proportion of patients with
intervention with current-generation DES. Since we acute coronary syndrome and our results are therefore
observed no definite harm of prolonged DAPT in terms of applicable to real-world clinical practice.29
mortality or major bleeding in our study, 12-month or The DAPT STEMI trial and the REDUCE trial also
longer DAPT should remain the standard of care for these compared short duration versus 12-month DAPT in
patients despite the improved safety of current DES. patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing
The most plausible explanation for the observed percutaneous coronary intervention. Although the
difference in myocardial infarction between the two results of these two trials have not been published, and
groups might be an increase in stent thrombosis after preliminary data were only presented in the late
cessation of a P2Y12 inhibitor in the 6-month DAPT breaking clinical trial session in the Transcatheter
group. However, in the present study, the rate of stent Cardiovascular Therapeutics 2017 (TCT 2017) scientific
thrombosis did not differ significantly between the meeting, it is worthwhile to compare our findings
two groups. Although the sample size of our study was with preliminary results of the DAPT STEMI30
not adequate to detect a difference in events occurring at (NCT01459627) and REDUCE31 (NCT02118870) trials.
a low rate, such as stent thrombosis, exclusive use of All three trials showed that short-duration DAPT
second-generation DES with proven efficacy and safety (6 months in the SMART-DATE and DAPT STEMI
might explain the absence of a significant difference in trials, and 3 months in the REDUCE trial) was non-
the rate of stent thrombosis between the two groups. inferior to conventional 12-month or longer DAPT in
Patients with acute coronary syndrome were reported to patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing
be at higher risk of stent thrombosis than those with percutaneous coronary intervention. However, only the
stable ischaemic heart disease after implantation of SMART-DATE study showed a significant increase in
the first-generation DES,1 but second-generation DES myocardial infarction, which might be due to the
significantly reduce rates of stent thrombosis and difference in sample size (1100 patients in the DAPT
myocardial infarction compared with first-generation STEMI trial and 1500 patients in the REDUCE trial), the
DES.6,7 Moreover, second-generation DES have shown risk of recurrent ischaemic events of enrolled patients,
and the DAPT regimen in our study versus that of the JML, and H-CG participated in data analysis and data interpretation.
other two trials. A pooled analysis of the SMART-DATE, J-YH and YBS wrote the first draft, and S-HC and H-CG reviewed and
revised the manuscript. All authors approved the final version of the
DAPT STEMI, and REDUCE trials, using preliminary manuscript.
data presented at TCT 2017, showed similar results to
SMART-DATE investigators
those of our study (appendix). The primary endpoint did Joo-Yong Hahn, Samsung Medical Center; Young Bin Song, Samsung
not significantly differ between the short duration of Medical Center; Taek Kyu Park, Samsung Medical Center;
DAPT and the conventional 12-month or longer DAPT. Joo Myung Lee, Samsung Medical Center; Jeong Hoon Yang, Samsung
Notably, our primary endpoint was a composite of Medical Center; Jin-Ho Choi, Samsung Medical Center;
Seung-Hyuk Choi, Samsung Medical Center; Hyeon-Cheol Gwon,
all-cause death, myocardial infarction, or stroke, Samsung Medical Center; Jong-Young Lee, Kangbuk Samsung
whereas the primary endpoint of the DAPT STEMI and Hospital; Woong Gil Choi, Konkuk University Chungju Hospital;
REDUCE trials was a composite of death, myocardial Jang-Ho Bae, Konyang University Hospital; Hun Sik Park, Kyoungpook
infarction, revascularisation, stroke, or bleeding. There National University Hospital; Jin-Yong Hwang, Gyeongsang National
University Hospital; Seung-Ho Hur, Dongsan Medical Center;
was a non-significant increase in myocardial infarction Seung-Woon Rha, Korea University Guro Hospital; Deok-Kyu Cho,
with short-duration DAPT compared with 12-month or Myongji Hospital; Sang Cheol Cho, Gwangju Veterans Hospital;
longer DAPT. All-cause mortality was similar between Won You Kang, Gwangju Veterans Hospital; Seong-Hoon Lim,
Dankook University Hospital; Jin Bae Lee, Daegu Catholic University
the two treatment regimens and major bleeding tended
Medical Center; Moo Hyun Kim, Dong-A University Hospital;
to occur less frequently with short-term DAPT than Kwang Soo Cha, Pusan National University Hospital; Rak Kyung Choi,
with long-term DAPT. Sejong General Hospital; In-Ho Chae, Seoul National University
Our study had several limitations. First, randomisation Bundang Hospital; Woo Jin Jang, Samsung Changwon Hospital;
Yong Hawn Park, Samsung Changwon Hospital; Woo Jung Chun,
was done at the index procedure, not at 6 months after the
Samsung Changwon Hospital; Ju-Hyeon Oh, Samsung Changwon
index procedure. Theoretically, it might be desirable that Hospital; Sang-Hyun Kim, Seoul National University Boramae Medical
randomisation is done when treatment in each group Center; Jang Hyun Cho, St. Carollo General Hospital; Il-Woo Suh, SAM
actually differs. However, randomisation at 6 months after Medical Center; Jong-Seon Park, Yeungnam University Hospital;
Jae Woong Choi, Eulji Medical Center; Byung-Ok Kim, Inje University
the index procedure could have caused selection bias as
Sanggye Paik Hospital; Joon-Hyung Doh, Inje University Ilsan Paik
a result of selective enrolment of patients with low risk Hospital; Doo-il Kim, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital;
profiles in whom 6-month DAPT seemed to be adequate. Myung Ho Jeong, Chonnam National University Hospital;
Second, our study was an open-label trial and not Seung Ho Kang, Cheju Halla General Hospital; Wang Soo Lee,
Chung-Ang University Hospital; Hoon-Ki Park, Seoul Veterans
placebo-controlled. However, clinical endpoints were Hospital; Jin-Ok Jeong, Chungnam National University Hospital;
assessed by members of independent clinical event and Kyung-Ju Ahn, Hanil General Hospital.
adjudication committee, and statistical analyses were Declaration of interests
done by independent statisticians. Third, a substantial H-CG has received research grants from Abbott Vascular, Boston
proportion of patients in the 6-month DAPT group Scientific, and Medtronic; and speaker’s fees from Abbott Vascular,
received a P2Y12 inhibitor after 6 months. However, we Boston Scientific, and Medtronic. J-YH has received grants from Abbott
Vascular, Boston Scientific, and Biotronik; and speaker’s fees from
also did a per-protocol analysis, which showed results AstraZeneca, Daiichi Sankyo, and Sanofi-Aventis. All other authors
consistent with the intention-to-treat analysis. Fourth, we declare no competing interests.
did not have information about total patients screened for Acknowledgments
enrolment and not all consecutive patients were This study was supported by Abbott Vascular Korea, Medtronic Vascular
considered for study randomisation, which might have Korea, Biosensors Inc, and Dong-A ST.
resulted in selection bias for enrolment of patients with References
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