[ASA - from cardiovascular to cancer prevention]

Cardiovascular disease and cancer are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Low-dose ASA has been shown to effectively prevent about one fifth of atherothrombotic vascular complications in patients with previous myocardial infarction, peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD), or stroke 2. In secondary prevention, the benefits of antiplatelet therapy substantially exceed its risk 2. By contrast, recommendations for the use of ASA in primary prevention are still a matter of controversy. The aim of this article is to review the current evidence for the efficacy of low-dose ASA in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases as well as to discuss its potential additional chemopreventive action.