[CAN WE USE ASPIRIN AS A PRIMARY PREVENTION FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE?]

Aspirin was considered for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) for dozens of years, but clinical trials from the last decade suggest that the use of aspirin for primary prevention depends on the subject's risk factors for CVD. Recent guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends aspirin for primary prevention of CVD events only for people aged 40 to 59 with a 10-year CVD risk of 10% or greater. For subjects 60 years and older the benefits are less clear, and aspirin is not recommended for primary prevention.