ARC-HBR — Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding Risk Criteria

The Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding Risk (ARC-HBR) is a standardized consensus definition to identify percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients at high risk for major bleeding complications on dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). Developed by a multinational consortium of cardiologists, the ARC-HBR definition includes 20 criteria (major and minor) that classify PCI patients as 'High Bleeding Risk' (HBR) — defined as BARC 3 or 5 bleeding risk ≥ 4% at 1 year OR intracranial hemorrhage rate ≥ 1% at 1 year. HBR identification allows tailoring of DAPT duration (shortened from standard 12 months), antiplatelet selection (clopidogrel over ticagrelor/prasugrel), and stent selection (newer-generation stents with shorter DAPT requirements).