Collaborative overview of randomised trials of antiplatelet therapy - I: Prevention of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke by prolonged antiplatelet therapy in various categories of patients

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effects of 'prolonged' antiplatelet therapy (that is, given for one month or more) on 'vascular events' (non-fatal myocardial infarctions, non-fatal strokes, or vascular deaths) in various categories of patients. Design: Overviews of 145 randomised trials of 'prolonged' antiplatelet therapy versus control and 29 randomised comparisons between such antiplatelet regimens. Setting: Randomised trials that could have been available by March 1990. Subjects - Trials of antiplatelet therapy versus control included about 70,000 'high-risk' patients (that is, with some vascular disease or other condition implying an increased risk of occlusive vascular disease) and 30,000 '..