This study evaluates three recent systematic reviews conducted on behalf of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) to evaluate the benefits and harms of long-term aspirin use in primary prevention for CVD and CRC. However, among those who are susceptible, it can lead to bleeding in the stomach and intestines and strokes caused by bleeding in the brain. The newly announced recommendations are applicable on adults aged between 50 and 69 years of age who have a 10% or greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years and to those who are not at increased risk for bleeding for aspirin therapy.
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“Recommending low-dose aspirin for prevention of heart attack and stroke has been a cornerstone of risk reduction by cardiologists”, said Dr. Kevin Marzo, chief of cardiology at Winthrop-University Hospital, in Mineola, N.Y.
“These new findings from the task force provide a good evidence-based approach for managing a disease with therapy that has risks”, said Dr. Biswajit Kar, medical division chief at the Center for Advanced Heart Failure at Memorial Hermann Heart and Vascular Institute-Texas Medical Center.
LeFevre also said that in 2009 there were concerns that men and women were different in terms of their aspirin benefit profile.
Huffman acknowledged that these drugs do not play a role in colon cancer prevention, “but the effects of aspirin on colorectal cancer are modest and not without risks, as the guideline states”, he said.
The Task Force concluded that the benefits of regular aspirin use for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and colorectal cancer can outweigh the bleeding risks for some patients, including those with higher risk for CVD.
When it comes to dosing, experts say sticking to a low-dose baby aspirin is best. The 2009 guidelines recommended aspirin for men aged 45 to 79 on the basis that its benefits in preventing heart attacks would outweigh the harms caused by potential gastrointestinal bleeding; it offered the same recommendation for women aged 55 to 79 hoping to prevent stroke.
Taking one daily low-dose (81 milligrams) aspirin tablet may be an cheap and effective way to help reduce the rates of heart disease, cancer and stroke, which are major causes of deaths for adults in the USA, the USPSTF said. Healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels also reduce the risk of heart disease, and regular screening can help prevent colon cancer. “These recommendations underscore the need to use aspirin judiciously in our patient population”. Other research has found no net benefits in aspirin use for people who haven’t yet suffered a heart attack or stroke. Patients should not be at high risk of bleeding, they should have a life expectancy of 10 years or more, and they should also be willing to take the dose for at least 10 years. The decision should be agreed between the physician and the patient.
Researchers say the benefits of the over-the-counter pill outweigh the risks of serious harm, particularly risk of bleeding in the stomach and intestines.
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The biggest objection Steven Nissen, M.D., chairman of the department of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, has to the guidelines is that they recommend using low-dose aspirin as “primary prevention” – meaning to prevent a first heart attack or episode of heart disease – despite the increased risk of bleeding.
