Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here): Background: In the management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) plays a crucial role in preventing recurrent ischemic events. Recent studies have explored the feasibility and safety of de-escalating DAPT from ticagrelor to clopidogrel.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis by searching several databases, including Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PubMed, MEDLINE (including MEDLINE InProcess) (OvidSP), Web of Science, Embase (OvidSP), and Scopus. We assessed the risk of bias using the ROB2 Cochrane tools for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The analysis was performed using RevMan Cochrane software.

Results: A total of ten studies including observational and clinical studies involving N=18,001patients (11,458 de-escalated from ticagrelor to clopidogrel after 12 months and 6,543 remained on ticagrelor after 12 months post-PCI) were included. There was no difference in the risk of all-cause death (RR 0.98; 95% CI 0.69 to 1.38; p=0.90), cardiovascular death (RR 1.09; 95% CI 0.68 to 1.74; p=0.73), myocardial infarction (RR 0.90; 95% CI 0.71 to 1.14; p=0.37) and stroke (RR 0.81; 95% CI 0.50 to 1.32; p=0.41) between the two groups.

Conclusion: In conclusion, transitioning from ticagrelor to clopidogrel in acute myocardial infarction following percutaneous coronary intervention appears to be a feasible strategy for de-escalating dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). While maintaining efficacy in preventing adverse cardiovascular events, such as stent thrombosis, this approach may mitigate bleeding risks associated with prolonged ticagrelor use.