1-Year Outcomes of 3-Month Dual Antiplatelet Therapy after Left Atrial
Appendage Closure with the Watchman Occluder (the DUAL-WATCH study): a
Post Hoc Analysis
Abstract
Objective: Optimal antithrombotic therapy following left atrial
appendage closure (LAAC) with the Watchman occluder (Boston Scientific)
remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and
safety of a 3-month dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after LAAC.
Methods: This was a post hoc analysis of a prospective study of patients
who underwent successful LAAC with Watchman devices at the REGIOMED
Hospitals of Coburg and Lichtenfels (Germany). Those treated from
11/2016 to 05/2018 received DAPT for 3 months (DAPT group); those from
02/2012 to 04/2017 received 45-day anticoagulant+aspirin followed by
4.5-month DAPT (ACT group). The primary efficacy outcome and safety
outcome were analyzed. The net clinical benefit and bleeding events 1
year after treatment, and their independent risk factors were also
explored. Results: There were 220 and 304 patients in the DAPT and ACT
groups. The primary efficacy outcome were 9.5% vs. 6.3% [hazard
ratio (HR), 1.58; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.84-2.97; P=0.14];
the primary safety outcome were 4.5% vs. 5.9% (HR, 0.80; 95% CI,
0.38-1.69; P=0.57); the net clinical benefit were 13.6% vs. 11.8% (HR,
1.23; 95% CI, 0.75-2.02; P=0.39) over 1 year in DAPT and ACT groups,
respectively. Age ≥75 years (HR, 2.08; 95%CI, 1.13-3.84; P=0.02) was
identified as an independent predictor for the net clinical benefit. ACT
(HR, 1.97; 95%CI, 1.12-3.50; P=0.02) was independently associated with
bleeding events after procedure. Conclusions: In patients who underwent
LAAC using the Watchman occluder, 3-month DAPT is associated with fewer
bleeding events compared with ACT regimen.