Aspirin and mortality in patients with diabetes sustaining acute coronary syndrome

We sought to compare mortality reduction associated with secondary prevention in patients with and without diabetes after acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

We conducted a cohort study involving 2,499 patients with ACS recruited from 11 U.K. hospitals. Multivariable analysis comparing all-cause mortality risk reduction associated with pharmacologic agents in patients with and without diabetes.

Aspirin was not associated with significant mortality benefit in diabetes sufferers (95% CI 0.50-1.08); nondiabetic patients derived a 48% mortality reduction (P < 0.001). The interaction between diabetes and aspirin use was statistically significant (P = 0.037), indicating that patients with diabetes experience less effective mortality reduction from aspirin use.

Aspirin, but not other secondary prevention agents, is associated with less effective mortality reduction in patients with diabetes and unstable coronary artery disease.