Aspirin prophylaxis in people without prior cardiovascular disease does not lead to reductions in cardiovascular death or cancer mortality

Commentary on: Seshasai SR, Wijesuriya S, Sivakumaran R, et al.. Effect of aspirin on vascular and nonvascular outcomes: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arch Intern Med 2012;172:209–16. Context Prophylactic antiplatelet therapy with aspirin reduces the risk of non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), non-fatal stroke and vascular death in patients with known cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is of net benefit. The absolute reduction in recurrent events significantly exceeds the increase in major bleeding.1 However, the role of aspirin in primary prevention of CVD is not clear. According to the Antithrombotic Trialists Collaboration meta-analysis and other recent studies, the role of aspirin in primary prevention of CVD is of uncertain net value.1 Similarly, the benefit of aspirin therapy for cancer prevention remains uncertain.2 Methods This meta-analysis of nine randomised controlled trials, including three newer studies, addresses the following important questions: (1) Is...
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Tags: Clinical trials (epidemiology), Epidemiologic studies, Drugs: cardiovascular system, Stroke, Hypertension, Prevention, Ischaemic heart disease Online articles Source Type: research