Thromb Haemost 2012; 107(02): 241-247
DOI: 10.1160/TH11-06-0439
Blood Coagulation, Fibrinolysis and Cellular Haemostasis
Schattauer GmbH

Use of aspirin in Chinese after recovery from primary intracranial haemorrhage

Boon-Hor Chong
1   Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
,
Koon-Ho Chan
2   Neurology Division, Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
,
Vincent Pong
1   Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
,
Kui-Kai Lau
2   Neurology Division, Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
,
Yap-Hang Chan
4   Department of Community Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
,
Ming-Liang Zuo
1   Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
,
Wai-Man Lui
3   Department of Neurosurgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
,
Gilberto Ka-Kit Leung
3   Department of Neurosurgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
,
Chu-Pak Lau
1   Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
,
Hung-Fat Tse
1   Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
,
Jenny Kan-Suen Pu
3   Department of Neurosurgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
,
Chung-Wah Siu
1   Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 29 June 2011

Accepted after major revision: 04 November 2011

Publication Date:
29 November 2017 (online)

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Summary

Intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) accounts for ~35% of all strokes in Chinese. Anti-platelet agent is often avoided after an index event due to the possibility of recurrent ICH. This single-centered observational study included 440 consecutive Chinese patients with a first spontaneous ICH surviving the first month performed during 1996–2010. The subjects were identified, and their clinical characteristics, anti-platelet therapy after ICH, and outcomes including recurrent ICH, ischaemic stroke, and acute coronary syndrome were checked from hospital records. Of these 440 patients, 56 patients (12.7%) were prescribed aspirin (312 patient-aspirin years). After a follow-up of 62.2 ± 1.8 months, 47 patients had recurrent ICH (10.7%, 20.6 per 1,000 patient years). Patients prescribed aspirin did not have a higher risk of recurrent ICH compared with those not prescribed aspirin (22.7 per 1,000 patient-aspirin years vs. 22.4 per 1,000 patient years, p=0.70). Multivariate analysis identified age > 60 years (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07–3.85, p=0.03) and hypertension (HR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.06–3.75, p=0.03) as independent predictors for recurrent ICH. In a subgroup analysis including 127 patients with standard indications for aspirin of whom 56 were prescribed aspirin, the incidence of combined vascular events including recurrent ICH, ischaemic stroke, and acute coronary syndrome was statistically lower in patients prescribed aspirin than those not prescribed aspirin (52.4 per 1,000 patient-aspirin years, vs. 112.8 per 1,000 patient-years, p=0.04). In conclusion, we observed in a cohort of Chinese post-ICH patients that aspirin use was not associated with an increased risk for a recurrent ICH.