Contemporary Prescription Patterns of Adenosine Diphosphate Receptor Inhibitors in Acute Coronary Syndrome

To assess the contemporary use of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor inhibitors in acute coronary syndrome at a large, quaternary academic medical center. A retrospective observational study was conducted using health records to compare patients who were treated with ticagrelor (Brilinta, AstraZeneca), prasugrel, or clopidogrel for a primary diagnosis of new-onset acute coronary syndrome between January 2014 and December 2014. A total of 275 patients were identified. Clopidogrel was the most commonly prescribed ADP receptor antagonist (52%), followed by ticagrelor (26%) and prasugrel (22%). Patients who were prescribed clopidogrel were more likely female ( < 0.01), 75 years of age or older ( < 0.01), and 60 kg or less in weight ( = 0.02), and they had more comorbidities. Of the patients on clopidogrel prior to admission, 21% were switched to prasugrel or ticagrelor for inadequate platelet inhibition, restenosis, or new stent placement. Of the patients on ticagrelor or prasugrel prior to admission, 17% were switched to clopidogrel for concerns about bleeding or cost. Clopidogrel was prescribed 13% of the time, prasugrel 13% of the time, and ticagrelor 4% of the time ( = 0.13) outside the recommended use per Food and Drug Administration-approved prescribing information based on relative or absolute contraindications. Clopidogrel continues to be the most commonly prescribed antiplatelet agent, particularly in older patients with more comorbidities.