Bleeding Definitions

Bleeding events complicate the medical management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). A variety of bleeding definitions have been derived as part of several major clinical trials to characterize bleeding. However, because most definitions are essentially trial specific, their utility is limited when evaluating the vast cache of data among trials; researchers were in effect comparing apples to oranges. To streamline bleeding event classification and facilitate cross-study comparison, standardized bleeding definitions were developed using the most relevant and robust criteria and have already augmented our ability to compare bleeding event data across trials. With increased use and rigorous validation, we anticipate even further improvement of this powerful tool.