Cardiac Safety Study
MI in Patients Who Received Dipyridamole or ASA and in Those Who Did Not (Factorial Analysis)
| MI | Dipyridamole | No Dipyridamole | Total | ASA | No ASA | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 83 (2.5%) | 84 (2.5%) | 167 | 74 (2.2%) | 93 (2.8%) | 167 |
| No | 3221 (97.5%) | 3214 (97.5%) | 6435 | 3225 (97.8%) | 3210 (7.2%) | 6435 |
| Total | 3304 | 3298 | 6602 | 3299 | 3303 | 6602 |
| chi² test: p = 0.928 | chi² test: p = 0.139 | |||||
In the two-year observation period, 167 new MIs occurred: 83 in patients on dipyridamole and 84 in patients not on dipyridamole. There was a trend for fewer MIs in patients who were on ASA than in those who were not on ASA (74 vs. 93, respectively). Numbers were to small to achieve significance in statistical testing.
Mortality in Patients Who Received Dipyridamole or ASA and in Those Who Did Not (Factorial Analysis)
| Mortality | Dipyridamole | No Dipyridamole | Total | ASA | No ASA | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 375 (11.3%) | 386 (11.7%) | 761 | 368 (11.2%) | 393 (11.9%) | 761 |
| No | 2929 (88.7%) | 2912 (88.3%) | 5841 | 2931 (88.8%) | 2910 (88,1%) | 5841 |
| Total | 3304 | 3298 | 6602 | 3299 | 6602 | |
| chi² test: p = 0.652 | chi² test: p = 0.344 | |||||
Altogether, 761 patients died during the two-year observation period. There was no difference in all-cause mortality in patients who received dipyridamole (375) compared with those who did not (386). The same was true for patients on ASA (386) or not (393). Mortality was identical in patients with CHD or prior MI irrespective of wether they took dipyridamole (213) or not (208) or ASA (209) or not (212).
Conclusion
Dipyridamole did not result in a higher number of cardiac events, e.g. angina pectoris, MI, or death from all causes. The combination of dipyridamole plus ASA was superior to either drug alone in the prevention of stroke.
References
Diener et al. Int J Clin Pract 2001; 55 (3): 162-163.
PubMed Abstract
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