Abstract 9672: Antiplatelet Therapy and Covid-19 Outcomes in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract

Introduction: Severe COVID-19 can cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), with pulmonary pathology composed of platelet microthrombi. Antiplatelet agents have been investigated as a treatment in ARDS, but without clear evidence of benefit. The decision on antiplatelet use in patients with COVID-19 and coronary artery disease (CAD) is key. Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that increased use of antiplatelet therapy was associated with no worse clinical outcomes in COVID-19 among adults with stable CAD. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who presented with COVID-19 to two New York City hospitals from March 3 to May 15, 2020. Patients were separated into groups based on antiplatelet use, including no outpatient antiplatelet use, monotherapy, and dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). Outcomes and complications were compared among the groups, using propensity scoring with inverse probability of treatment weighting. Results: This study included 315 patients with stable CAD and COVID-19. Patients on no outpatient antiplatelet therapy were significantly older and more likely to be taking anticoagulation, while patients on DAPT had the highest rates of diabetes and chronic kidney disease. The most prescribed antiplatelet in the cohort was aspirin (72.1%) followed by clopidogrel (22.5%). There was no difference in COVID-19 admission mortality between the DAPT and monotherapy groups (DAPT 27.9%, monotherapy 27.2%, p=NS). Patients on DAPT had decreased rates of venous thromboembolism compared to monotherapy (DAPT 0.0%, monotherapy 6.4%, p=0.01), and bleeding rates were similar. The rate of home monotherapy continuation in hospital was 79.9%, with the most common reasons for discontinuation being hemorrhage, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. No outpatient antiplatelet use was a high-risk group, with the highest rates of intensive care admissions, intubations and mortality. Conclusions: In conclusion, we found no difference in COVID-19 outcomes for CAD patients on DAPT compared to those on monotherapy. There were decreased clotting complications in patients on more antiplatelet therapy, while bleeding rates were similar. No outpatient antiplatelet use was found to be a high-risk group in COVID-19.