Combined impact of body mass index and glycemic control on the efficacy of clopidogrel-aspirin therapy in patients with minor stroke or transient ischemic attack.

BACKGROUND

A single index of body mass index (BMI) may not fully address its impact on anti-platelet therapy. We aimed to elucidate the combined impact of BMI and dysglycemia expressed by glycated albumin (GA) on efficacy of clopidogrel-aspirin therapy among minor stroke (MS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients.

RESULTS

Patients with overweight/obesity and low GA levels still benefited from clopidogrel-aspirin therapy for stroke recurrence (Hazard ratio [HR]: 0.48, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.28-0.82), so did those with high GA levels but low/normal weight (HR: 0.67, 95 % CI: 0.45-0.99). However, patients with both overweight/obesity and high GA levels did not benefit from clopidogrel-aspirin therapy (HR: 0.89, 95 % CI: 0.59-1.33).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with aspirin alone, efficacy of clopidogrel-aspirin therapy for stroke still exists in overweight/obesity patients with normal glycemic control.

METHODS

In Clopidogrel in High-Risk Patients with Acute Nondisabling Cerebrovascular Events trial, 3044 patients with available baseline GA were recruited. Low/normal weight and overweight/obesity were defined as BMI < 25 kg/m2 and ≥ 25 kg/m2, respectively. Elevated and low GA levels were defined as GA levels > 15.5 % and ≤ 15.5 %, respectively. The primary outcome was stroke recurrence during the 90-day follow-up.