Objectives To evaluate effect of duration of clopidogrel use on clinical outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease receiving drug-eluting stents (DES).

Methods A total of 426 patients with coronary artery disease receiving drug-eluting stents were enrolled. All patients were divided into two groups [12 months group (n = 262) and >12 months group (n = 164)] by duration of clopidogrel use. Baseline characteristics [age, gender, angiographic characteristics, 1eft ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), history of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity and smoking] of two groups were collected. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) including all-cause mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke] were compared between the 12-month clopidogrel use group and the >12-month clopidogrel use group.

Results The average follow-up was 26.6 ± 7.5 months. Rates of male, history of smoking, obesity, hypertension and hyperlipidemia were not different between the two groups (P>0.05). Average LVEF and average age were significantly higher in the 12 months group than that of the >12 months group (P<0.05). Rate of diabetes was significantly lower in the 12 months group than that of the >12 months group (P<0.01). Incidence of MACE in follow-up period did not differ significantly between the 12 months group and the >12 months group (7.2% vs 4.9%, P>0.05).

Conclusions >12-month clopidogrel use in patients who had received DES was not significantly more effective than 12-month clopidogrel use in reducing the rate of death, MI and stroke.