The debate on the daily intake of an aspirin tablet to thin the blood in order to prevent a heart attack regularly agitates the scientific community. And very regularly, the American health authorities and more precisely the US preventive services task force (USPSTF), update their recommendations on the use of this anti-inflammatory for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.
After having long advocated its universal prescription, scientists are now refining their recommendations according to the patient’s age and his history of cardiovascular disease. so they come from publish their new recommendations :
- People aged 40 to 59 who are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease should decide with their clinician whether to start aspirin. “Evidence indicates that the net benefit of aspirin use in this group is small. People who are not at increased risk of bleeding and who are willing to take low-dose aspirin daily are more likely to benefit from it” underline the American health authorities.
- People aged 60 or over should not start taking aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke.
Other benefits of aspirin
Acetylsalicylic acid (the active substance in aspirin) has always aroused the interest of scientists. From study to study, researchers have already shown that aspirin reduces the frequency of colon cancer in people at risk, others that aspirin protects against melanoma, or that this anti-inflammatory would have positive effects. on major depressive disorders. And more recently, a study has shown that aspirin limits the risk of recurrence of colon cancer.
But when it comes to preventing cardiovascular disease, theUSPSTF now insists on the need for an individual prescription in order to take into account the risk-benefit balance. Daily intake of aspirin, even at low doses, can indeed increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding such as ulcers in patients.
Source : Final Recommendation Statement: Aspirin to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease, US preventive services task forces, April 2022
Read also :
- Aspirin would be more effective at night
- Aspirin: long-term risks for people over 75
- Aspirin can save your life after a stroke
