Coronary disease & ACS

Clopidogrel vs Aspirin According to Diabetes Mellitus: A Prespecified Analysis of the SMART-CHOICE 3 Trial

JACC Cardiovasc IntervPublished Secondary analysis of the SMART-CHOICE 3 randomised trial

Primary result · MACCE in DM patientsResult — go to the resultHazard ratio 0.57 95% CI 0.38–0.86

Authors' conclusion

Among DM patients who completed the standard duration of DAPT after PCI, clopidogrel monotherapy was associated with a lower risk of a composite of death from any cause, myocardial infarction, and stroke compared with aspirin monotherapy, without increased rates of bleeding. There was no significant interaction between DM and antiplatelet monotherapy with respect to MACCE.

Study context

Population
Patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and standard dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) duration with complex coronary lesions, diabetes mellitus (DM) or previous MI; DM subgroup2,089 with DM
Participants
5,506 patients
Comparison
Clopidogrel vs aspirin monotherapy, by DM status
  • Clopidogreln = 1,039
  • Aspirinn = 1,050reference
Primary endpoint
Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE):
  • Death from any cause
  • MI
  • Stroke
Follow-up
Median 2.3 years (IQR: 1.6-3.0 years)
Methodological detailsprespecified analysis, multicentre, open-label
  • Prespecified analysis
  • Multicentre
  • Open-label

Primary result

MACCE in DM patients · median 2.3 years

Hazard ratio

0.57

95% CI 0.38–0.86

P = 0.008

By group

Clopidogrelvs Aspirin
HR 0.57 (95% CI 0.38–0.86); P = 0.008

As reported in the abstract

Further findings

OutcomeDMNon-DMHR (95% CI)P value
MACCE, DMvs non-DM6.8%4.7%1.44 (1.10–1.87)P = 0.008

Safety

OutcomeClopidogrelAspirinHR (95% CI)P value
Bleeding in DM patients2.9%2.9%1.06 (0.57–1.95)P = 0.855

Original publication

Clopidogrel vs Aspirin According to Diabetes Mellitus: A Prespecified Analysis of the SMART-CHOICE 3 Trial. JACC Cardiovasc Interv. Published 16 July 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jcin.2026.05.013

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