Primary prevention of cardiovascular complications in type II diabetes patients using aspirin: a complicated tale

Diabetes is a disease that affects 23 million in the United States alone. Within the past 20 years, there has been remarkable research performed concerning primary prevention of cardiovascular events in type II diabetes patients. The American Diabetes Association along with a government panel made recommendations that diabetes patients at a high risk of cardiovascular events should be on a low-dose aspirin regimen. However, more recent data show that aspirin has no clinical benefit to the diabetic patient as compared with a control group. Looking at research performed by groups in Japan, the United States, namely, the Primary Prevention Project, and a group in Ireland, we learn that there is no significant difference between diabetes patients who take aspirin and those who do not with respect to cardiovascular events. These studies are criticized by some newer research, and the prevailing thought about them call into question the results they obtained.Furthermore, we learn that many type II diabetes patients are not properly participating in an aspirin regimen or they are overusing aspirin, and these variables appear to confound the situation. One study showed that up to 50% of diabetes patients do not have their diabetes under control and are therefore increasing their risk for a multitude of complications arising from diabetes, including cardiovascular events.Finally, we learn of an upcoming project studying aspirin from Bayer, Inc. Much of the information presented in this article demonstrates the need for more and better research revolving around primary prevention of cardiovascular events in type II diabetes patients using aspirin.