The secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial investigates the effect of low-dose aspirin on incidence of ischemic stroke and intracranial bleeding amon
Very important stipulation here just so it’s clear before everyone chucks their aspirin in the trash, this is a study on just giving low dose aspirin to people who are totally healthy. We know aspirin is helpful for ischemic stroke prevention for people who are at higher risk for strokes, including people who’ve had an ischemic stroke before. Many people have risk factors for stroke and cardiac disease. People should talk to their doctor about whether or not they should be on a low dose aspirin.
I remember something about this year(s) ago? As long as you’re healthy with no family history aspirin just increases risk?
Until recently the US preventative services task force had been recommendeding low dose aspirin to petty much everyone over a certain age for prevention of heart disease and ischemic stroke. They recently ended this catch-all recommendation for everyone above a certain age, but there are many situations in which a low dose aspirin is still going to be helpful for certain people. Low dose aspirin has a low risk of major side effects, but if what it’s preventing is also rare then it might not be worth it for everyone. So it’s no longer a catch all recommendation above a certain age, the decision needs to be made in conjunction with a patient’s doctor based on their particular health situation and risk benefit balance. Age is another thing that may affect this balance, for instance this study was specifically looking at older adults where bleeding events are more common than in younger or middle aged adults, and shouldn’t be generalized to all adults.
For secondary prevention (like someone already has evidence of heart disease or a past ischemic stroke), there’s volumes of evidence showing it’s benefit. Sometimes even two different antiplatelet drugs, like aspirin and clopidogrel, are even used together.
Just what I wanted to hear. /s.
I have been in low dose aspirin for the last three years for it’s supposed benefits.
Talk to your doctor before stopping it. This study is specifically for primary prevention, and you may be on it for secondary prevention or treatment, which are completely different things.
