Abraham NS, et al. - In patients prescribed different antithrombotic regimens, researchers examined the risk and time frame for gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB). They suggested that risk would rise over time, particularly among older patients, with combination regimens. Using parametric time-to-event survival models, the one-year GIB risk was estimated and expressed as annualized risk and number needed to harm. Participants in the study were 311,211 patients (mean ages, 67 years for monotherapy and 69.8 years for combination antithrombotic therapy). No significant difference was found in the proportion of patients with bleeding after anticoagulant or antiplatelet monotherapy (∼3.5%/year). The authors discovered GIB occurring in a greater percentage of patients prescribed combinations of anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents vs monotherapy in an assessment of nationwide insurance and Medicare claims data. The risk of GIB risen with age among all categories of drug exposure and cardiovascular conditions, particularly among patients over 75 years of age (GIB occurred in 10%–17.5% of patients/y).