Data analysis finds multiple antiplatelets linked to worse outcomes after a brain bleed

Summary: Doctors looked at 10 years of hospital data from over 400,000 patients to see how blood-thinning medicines affect brain bleeds. Medicines called "antiplatelets" are often given to people to prevent heart attacks by keeping blood clots from forming. However, the study found a major risk: if a person taking strong antiplatelets (or more than one at a time) suffers a bleeding stroke in the brain, they are much more likely to die in the hospital.

Interestingly, people who only took regular aspirin did not have this higher risk of death. Doctors warn that you should never stop taking your prescribed heart medications without talking to your healthcare provider first, because the benefits of preventing a heart attack usually outweigh the risks. But if a brain bleed does happen, the type of blood thinner you are on can make a big difference in your recovery.

For more details, see the American Heart Association at newsroom.heart.org/news/data-analysis-finds-multiple-antiplatelets-linked-to-worse-outcomes-after-a-brain-bleed (opens in new tab)