Table 3.

GRADE evidence profile: Dual antiplatelet with clopidogrel and aspirin for 10-21 days versus 22-90 days after transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke

Outcome; timeframe	Study results and measurements	Absolute effect estimates		Certainty in effect estimates (quality of evidence)	Plain text summary
		Stop clopidogrel, continue aspirin	Continue clopidogrel and aspirin
Ischaemic stroke; 90 days	Odds ratio 1.47 (95% CI 0.84 to 2.56). Based on data from 4406 patients in one study. Follow-up 90 days	10/1000	14/1000	Moderate: due to indirectness*	Longer duration of dual antiplatelet therapy probably does not result in an important reduction in ischaemic stroke
		Difference: 4 more per 1000 (95% CI 2 fewer to 11 more)
Moderate or severe bleeding; 90 days	Odds ratio 2.20 (95% CI 0.83 to 5.78). Based on data from 4599 patients in one study. Follow-up 90 days	3/1000	6/1000	High: downgraded due to imprecision and upgraded due to a dose-response gradient †	Longer duration of dual antiplatelet therapy increases risk of moderate or major bleeding by small amount
		Difference: 3 more per 1000 (95% CI 1 fewer to 7 more)

^*Indirectness: serious. Patients were randomised 21 days before decision point of whether to stop clopidogrel or not, and patients who had a stroke within the first 21 days were not included in this analysis. More patients randomised to aspirin had a stroke before day 21. Therefore, patients who continued clopidogrel and aspirin were probably at higher risk of a stroke after day 21.

^†Imprecision: serious. Confidence interval includes no difference.