Key messages from scientific research that's ready to be acted on
Got It, Hide thisPalmer SC, Di Micco L, Razavian M, et al. Antiplatelet agents for chronic kidney disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;2:CD008834.
What are the effects of antiplatelet drugs in people with chronic kidney disease?
Chronic kidney disease is a progressive loss in kidney function over a period of months or years.
Cardiovascular disease refers to diseases that involve the heart and the system of arteries that carry blood to the body. These diseases include stroke and heart attack. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of sickness and death in people with chronic kidney disease.
Platelets are blood clot cells. Clots may result in stroke and heart attacks. Antiplatelet drugs prevent clot formation.
Antiplatelet drugs might be beneficial in patients with chronic kidney disease to prevent stroke and heart attacks.
This summary is based on a systematic review of 50 randomized controlled trials involving 27,139 people. Period of publication was 1974 to 2010.
Outcomes included heart attacks, strokes, death from all causes, death from cardiovascular disease, major and minor bleeding, kidney disease, kidney transplant failure, and dialysis.
Antiplatelet drugs compared with placebo or no treatment
Comparisons among antiplatelet drugs
Antiplatelet drugs (for about 12 months) lower the risk of heart attacks in people with chronic kidney disease.
Antiplatelet drugs increase major and minor bleeding.
Outcomes | Results with antiplatelet drugs |
Heart attack | 13% decrease |
Death (from any cause, stroke, or related to cardiovascular disease) | No difference |
Major bleeding | 33% increase |
Minor bleeding | 48% increase |
Failure of dialysis access site | 32% decrease |
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