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Background: The reasons for admission to the Acute Coronary Care Unit (ACCU) have changed in the past few years. The classical cause of acute coronary syndrome sets aside the causes of acute heart failure and post-procedural complications. There is also a change in the demographic characteristics and co-morbidities of the admitted patients., Objectives: The aim of this study is to illustrate the current causes of admission and complications during hospitalization in a tertiary center., Method: We compiled a computerized prospective registry during the months of January to March 2014. The registry includes the cause of admission, demographic characteristics, co-morbidities, interventions and clinical outcomes., Results: A total of 257 patients were admitted to the ACCU with a calculated sum of 937 hospitalization days. The average age was 67 ± 15; a third of the patients were above the age of 75 and a third were female; 100 patients have presented with other co-morbidities such as COPD, chronic renal failure, CVA or malignancy; and 46% of the patients were admitted due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Other causes were acute heart failure, shock and post-procedural complications. The average length of hospitalization was 2.9 ± 1.7 days for ACS patients compared to 4.3 ± 5 days due to other causes. Approximately 25% had developed acute heart failure during their hospital stay; most of them were older with higher rates of co-morbidities. The duration of hospitalization was longer in those patients, 5.5 ± 5 days, compared to 3.2 ± 4 (p < 0.005); 20% of the patients needed mechanical ventilation; 8.3% had acute renal failure; 4.7% acquired infection while hospitalized; 3.1% had major bleeding and 1.9% had arrhythmias. The total mortality rate was 2.3%. Patients who presented with ACS had a mortality rate of 1% compared to patients who were admitted due to heart failure or shock who had a mortality rate of 10.4% in this period., Conclusion: We have presented the current trend of admission to the ACCU with a shift from ACS to other cardiac causes such as acute heart failure, shock or peri-procedural complications. The rate of co-morbidities and hospital complications is increasing as the patients' age increases. This shift of patients' characteristics requires a re-examination of the role of the medical staff in this new era. There is a need to increase funding for acquiring new technology, staff education and reinforcing current staff.

Platelet activation and aggregation play a major role in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and thrombotic complications following percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Antiplatelet therapy with aspirin (ASA) and/or clopidogrel remains one of the most effective therapies for the treatment of ACS and prevention of thrombotic complications following PCI. Nevertheless, not all patients achieve the desired laboratory and/or clinical effect following antiplatelet therapy. These patients have been termed "aspirin resistant" or "clopidogrel resistant". In recent years, several studies regarding clopidogrel resistance have been conducted, and a number of pharmacological therapies, together with new treatments, have been suggested. This review aims to provide an overview of the epidemiology, prevalence, clinical significance and potential solutions regarding clopidogrel resistance.