Baseline thrombocytopenia in acute coronary syndrome: The lower, the worse

Background: Patients with baseline thrombocytopenia can have increased mortality and morbidity, but are typ-ically excluded from randomized clinical trials studying acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We sought to better define the effect thrombocytopenia on clinical outcomes in ACS patients. Methods: Patients identified from the NCDR Chest Pain registry at Mayo Clinic Arizona from Oct 2015 to Sep 2018 were retrospectively classified into two groups: TP (platelet < 150 x 10(3) mu L) and control (platelet >= 150 x 10(3) mu L). The groups were analyzed for the clinical outcome (all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiac events (MACE), and bleeding events). The TP group was divided into moderate-severe thrombocytopenia (TPmod platelet 50-100 x 10(3) mu L) and mild thrombocytopenia (TPmild; platelet 100-150 x 10(3) mu L) for further analysis. P-value < 0.05 is considered significant. Results: Five hundred and thirty-six patients were identified, and 72 patients (13%) had thrombocytopenia. The median follow-up time was 1.1 years. The TP group was older (TP vs. control: mean age 73 +/- 13 years vs. 70 +/- 13 years; P = 0.026). In patients discharged on dual-antiplatelet therapy, the TP group had higher all-cause mortal-ity (23% vs. 7.3%; P = 0.007) but not major bleeding events (11% vs. 5.0%; P = 0.123). Only all-cause mortality increased with the severity of thrombocytopenia (TPmod vs. TPmild vs. control: 33% vs. 24% vs. 7.3%; P = 0.007). Conclusions: In patients with ACS, baseline thrombocytopenia is associated with increased all-cause mortality and all bleeding events without net MACE benefit. Further study is needed to identify the optimal antiplatelet strategy in this higher risk population. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study found that baseline thrombocytopenia in patients with acute coronary syndrome is associated with increased all-cause mortality and bleeding events. With the severity of thrombocytopenia increasing, the all-cause mortality also increases.