BackgroundThe incidence and predictors of bleeding after acute coronary syndrome are unclear within the real‐world setting. Our objective was to determine the incidence, types, timing, and predictors of bleeding complications following hospital discharge after acute coronary syndrome.Methods and ResultsWe used the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, with linkage to Hospital Episode Statistics, to determine the incidence, timing, and types of bleeding events within 12 months after hospital discharge for acute coronary syndrome. We assessed independent associations between postdischarge bleeding and baseline patient characteristics using a competing risk regression model, accounting for death as a competing event. Among 27 660 patients surviving to hospital discharge, 3620 (13%) experienced bleeding complications at a median time of 123 days (interquartile range, 45–223 days) after discharge. The incidence of bleeding was 162/1000 person‐years (95% CI, 157–167/1000 person‐years) within the first 12 months after hospital discharge. Bruising (949 bleeds [26%]) was the most common type of first bleeding event, followed by gastrointestinal bleed (705 bleeds [20%]), whereas intracranial bleed was relatively rare (81 bleeds [2%]). Significant predictors of postdischarge bleeding included history of bleeding complication, oral anticoagulant prescription, history of peripheral vascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and advanced age (>80 years). Predictors for postdischarge bleeding varied, depending on the anatomic site of the bleeding event.ConclusionsBleeding complications after hospital discharge for acute coronary syndrome are common. Patients who experience these bleeding events have distinct baseline characteristics, which vary by anatomic site of the bleed. These characteristics can inform risk‐benefit considerations in deciding on favorable combination and duration of secondary antithrombotic therapy.

ObjectiveThe primary objective was to determine the incidence of bleeding events post acute coronary syndrome (ACS) following hospital discharge. The secondary objective was to determine the prognostic impact of bleeding on mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), myocardial re-infarction and rehospitalisation in the postdischarge setting.DesignA narrative systematic review.Data sourceMedline, Embase, Amed and Central (Cochrane) were searched up to August 2018.Study selectionFor the primary objective, randomised controlled trials (RCT) and observational studies reporting on the incidence of bleeding post hospital discharge were included. For the secondary objective, RCTs and observational studies that compared patients with bleeding versus those without bleeding post hospital discharge vis-à-vis mortality, MACE, myocardial re-infarction and rehospitalisation were included.Results53 studies (36 observational studies and 17 RCTs) with a combined cohort of 714 458 participants for the primary objectives and 187 317 for the secondary objectives were included. Follow-up ranged from 1 month to just over 4 years. The incidence of bleeding within 12 months post hospital discharge ranged from 0.20% to 37.5% in observational studies and between 0.96% and 39.4% in RCTs. The majority of bleeds occurred in the initial 3 months after hospital discharge with bruising the most commonly reported event. Major bleeding increased the risk of mortality by nearly threefold in two studies. One study showed an increased risk of MACE (HR 3.00,95% CI 2.75 to 3.27; p<0.0001) with bleeding and another study showed a non-significant association with rehospitalisation (HR 1.20,95% CI 0.95 to 1.52; p=0.13).ConclusionBleeding complications following ACS management are common and continue to occur in the long term after hospital discharge. These bleeding complications may increase the risk of mortality and MACE, but greater evidence is needed to assess their long-term effects.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42017062378.