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AQUATIC findings sink antiplatelet therapy for patients with chronic coronary syndrome requiring oral anticoagulants

In patients with chronic coronary syndrome and an indication for oral anticoagulation, whether continuation of antiplatelet therapy in the initial phase after percutaneous coronary intervention is appropriate in Western populations with high atherothrombotic risk was previously unclear. The AQUATIC trial now shows that continuation of antiplatelet therapy increases the risk of both bleeding and ischaemic events in these patients.

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Fig. 1: Interactions between bleeding and ischaemic risk in patients with chronic coronary syndrome and an indication for oral anticoagulation.

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Correspondence to Robert F. Storey.

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W.A.E.P. has received consulting fees and research support from AstraZeneca. R.F.S. has received research grants from AstraZeneca and CytoSorbents, and personal fees from Abbott, Afortiori Development/Thrombolytic Science, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim/Lilly, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chiesi, Cytosorbents, Idorsia/Viatris, Johnson & Johnson, Novo Nordisk, PhaseBio and Tabuk.

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Parker, W.A.E., Storey, R.F. AQUATIC findings sink antiplatelet therapy for patients with chronic coronary syndrome requiring oral anticoagulants. Nat Rev Cardiol 22, 921–922 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41569-025-01224-0

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