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Low-dose aspirin as primary prevention for adults without cardiovascular disease
1The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Insights
Daily low-dose aspirin does not prevent cardiovascular death in adults without prior cardiovascular disease. More research is needed to confirm if aspirin offers benefits for primary prevention in this population.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Preventive Medicine
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death in the U.S.
- Low-dose aspirin is frequently prescribed for CVD risk reduction.
- Evidence supporting aspirin for primary prevention is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of daily low-dose aspirin for primary CVD prevention in adults without a history of CVD.
- To determine if aspirin reduces cardiovascular events and death in primary prevention.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of four databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Ovid) was conducted.
- 67 nonduplicate articles were initially reviewed.
- Four studies, including three randomized controlled trials and one retrospective cohort study, were included in the final analysis.
Main Results:
- The reviewed studies consistently found that daily low-dose aspirin does not decrease the risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
- No significant reduction in cardiovascular mortality was observed in individuals taking aspirin for primary prevention.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence suggests daily low-dose aspirin is not beneficial for primary prevention of cardiovascular death in adults without established CVD.
- Further research is necessary to clarify aspirin's role in primary CVD prevention.
- Healthcare providers, particularly nurse practitioners, require updated evidence-based guidelines to counsel patients effectively on aspirin use.
Background:
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Patients with cardiovascular disease risk factors are often put on low-dose aspirin to prevent future cardiovascular events and cardiovascular death. However, the evidence supporting this practice is limited.
Objective:
To examine whether adults without a history of cardiovascular disease benefit from taking daily low-dose aspirin as primary prevention for cardiovascular disease and death.
Data Sources:
The four databases of PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Ovid were used, and a total of 67 nonduplicate articles were reviewed. After examining those articles, four studies were included. Of the four studies, three were randomized controlled trials, and one was a retrospective cohort study.
Conclusions:
All four studies concluded that daily low-dose aspirin used for primary prevention does not lower the risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
Implications For Practice:
Further research needs to be conducted to determine whether daily low-dose aspirin is beneficial in individuals without a history of cardiovascular disease. Nurse practitioners need to know the most current evidence-based practice recommendations to appropriately counsel patients about whether they should be taking low-dose aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease.
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