Abstract:Objective To describe the early use of Clopidogrel therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in eastern rural China in 2006 and 2011, and to identify the factors associated with the early use of Clopidogrel therapy. Methods Based on China Patient-centered Evaluative Assessment of Cardiac Events Retrospective Study of Acute Myocardial Infarction, clinical information of a representative sample of hospitalized patients with AMI in eastern rural China in 2006 and 2011 were collected through a two-stage randomization sampling. Early Clopidogrel therapy was defined as initiation within 24 hours after admission. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors related to the early use of Clopidogrel therapy. Results A total of 2,335 eligible patients were identified for early Clopidogrel therapy from 32 hospitals in eastern rural China, their age was 25 to 96 years with the mean age of (66.7 ± 12.2) years and 33.1% were female. From 2006 to 2011, the rate of early Clopidogrel use increased from 32.0% to 69.0% (P < 0.05). In logistic regression analysis, the patients with dyslipidemia, hypertension or the history of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were more likely to receive early Clopidogrel [Ol^R=2.30 (95% CI: 1.03, 5.14), Ol^R = 1.44 (95% CI: 1.14, 1.81), Ol^R = 3.44 (95% CI: 1.65, 7.16), respectively]. Moreover, the patients with chest discomfort at admission were more likely to be treated with Clopidogrel [Oll^^R = 2.21 (95% CI: 1.53, 3.18)], and the patients receiving direct PCI during hospitalization were more likely to receive early Clopidogrel treatment [Ol^R = 3.82 (95% CI: 1.39, 10.46)]. However, the female patients were less likely to receive early Clopidogrel therapy compared with the male patients [Ol^R = 0.67 (95% CI: 0.52, 0.87)]. Conclusions From 2006 to 2011, the utilization rate of early Clopidogrel therapy increased substantially among the patients with AMI in eastern rural China. However, there is still a lot of room for improvement. Quality improvement initiatives are needed for further improvements in early Clopidogrel therapy for the patients with AMI.