Evaluating the Efficacy of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy in Reducing Recurrent Stroke in High-Risk Patients

Introduction: Still among the primary causes of illness and death worldwide is stroke. Comparatively to single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT), dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) has been suggested as a successful approach to lower the risk of recurrent strokes in high-risk patients. This study sought to assess whether DAPT would be effective in avoiding recurrent strokes among high-risk patients at Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) in Peshawar. Methodology: Using 92 high-risk stroke patients, 92 were assigned to DAPT (n=46) or SAPT (n=46). Over a follow-up period concluding in August 2024, data on demographic, clinical, stroke recurrence rates, and safety outcomes was gathered. Outcomes were assessed using statistical analyses comprising Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards modeling. Results: With a stroke recurrence rate of 13% instead of 30% in the SAPT group (p=0.026), the DAPT group displayed with p=0.017 the Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a stroke-free survival rate of 87% in the DAPT group against 70% in the SAPT group. The Cox model showed that DAPT reduced the incidence of recurrent stroke by 60% (HR=0.40). The incidence of major bleeding events was low, with 4.3% in the DAPT group and 2.1% in the SAPT group (p=0.53), indicating an acceptable safety profile. Conclusion: This study supports the use of DAPT as a more successful tactic than SAPT for low-risk individuals' recurrent stroke prevention. The results highlight the significance of using DAPT in clinical practice and provide important data for the management of stroke in different populations.