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Aspirin in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease

J M Gaziano1, P J Skerrett, J E Buring

  • 1Division of Preventive Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, and Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass 02215, USA. graziano@maveric.org

Haemostasis
|February 22, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Aspirin significantly reduces cardiovascular risks for heart attack patients and those with existing cardiovascular disease. However, its effectiveness in primary prevention requires more research, especially in women.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology
  • Preventive Medicine

Background:

  • Aspirin is widely studied for cardiovascular disease prevention.
  • Trials have focused on acute myocardial infarction (MI), prior cardiovascular disease, and primary prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the evidence for aspirin's efficacy in different patient populations.
  • To highlight gaps in current research, particularly for primary prevention.

Main Methods:

  • Review of randomized trials involving aspirin in various cardiovascular contexts.
  • Analysis of outcomes including nonfatal MI, nonfatal stroke, and cardiovascular death.

Main Results:

  • Aspirin initiation within 24 hours of acute MI reduces cardiovascular events and death.
  • In patients with existing cardiovascular disease, aspirin lowers risks of MI, stroke, and vascular death.
  • Primary prevention trials show aspirin reduces first MI risk in men, but data for stroke and total death are limited; data in women are lacking.

Conclusions:

  • Aspirin is a proven intervention for secondary cardiovascular prevention and acute MI management.
  • The role of aspirin in primary prevention requires further investigation, especially in diverse populations.
  • Clinical decisions regarding primary prevention should consider physician judgment and management of other risk factors.

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