2/3/2010
Aspirin risks
outweigh benefits for people without artery or heart disease
Last summer, British researchers revealed the latest results of
a study about the use of aspirin. They presented
the research - which was funded partly by us - at
the European Society of Cardiology conference, where top heart
doctors and scientists go to share and discuss their findings.
Now the team have published the results in
a research journal - this is one of the ways
that scientific findings are checked and validated.
In response to the findings, our Medical Director,
Professor Peter Weissberg, said:
“We know that a small daily dose of aspirin
can reduce the risk of a heart attack in people with angina
and in those who’ve had a heart attack. In these cases,
this potential benefit outweighs the risk of internal bleeding,
which is a side effect of aspirin.
“This study sought to determine if people with
evidence of artery disease in their legs – which raises the risk of
having a heart attack in future – would also benefit from taking
daily aspirin.
“The results show that these people
don’t gain any heart-protective benefit from
taking a daily dose of aspirin and were more prone to
internal bleeding complications than people who took a
placebo.
“The findings agree with our current advice
that people who do not have symptomatic or diagnosed artery
or heart disease should not take aspirin, because the
risks of bleeding may outweigh the benefits.”
The research is published in the Journal of the American Medical
Association, March 3, 2010—Vol 303, No. 9, p 841 –
848. Aspirin for Prevention of Cardiovascular eents in a General
Population Screened for a Low Ankle Brachial Index, Fowkes et
al
Improving current treatments
Our researchers are always striving to improve current
treatments, reduce side effects, and investigate new ways
to prevent and treat heart and circulatory disease.
- Read more about some recent
discoveries and hear from people who've
benefited from our life-saving
science.
Health advice
Our health advice is always up to date, and evolves as robust
evidence about new and established medicines appears.
- Read more about common
medicines that are prescribed to prevent or treat
heart and circulatory disease,
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