BACKGROUND: In spite of the clear evidence of benefit of aspirin in the secondary prevention of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular thrombotic events, its use in patients at high risk due to a previous event remains suboptimal. A possible explanation for this underuse is concern regarding the relative benefit in relation to the potential risk for serious gastrointestinal events. OBJECTIVE: To compare the benefit and gastrointestinal risk of aspirin use for the secondary prevention of thromboembolic events. DESIGN: A meta-analysis was conducted using 6 trials (6300 patients) meeting the inclusion requirement of use of low-dose aspirin (< or =325 mg/d) in approved secondary prevention indications. RESULTS: Aspirin reduced all-cause mortality by 18%. In addition, aspirin use reduced the number of strokes by 20%, myocardial infarctions by 30%, and other "vascular events" by 30%. Alternately, patients who took aspirin were 2.5 times more likely than those in the placebo group to have gastrointestinal tract bleeding. The number needed to treat for aspirin to prevent 1 death from any cause of mortality was 67, while 100 needed to be treated to detect 1 nonfatal gastrointestinal tract bleeding. CONCLUSION: Aspirin use for the secondary prevention of thromboembolic events has a favorable benefit-to-risk profile and should be encouraged in those at high risk.
BACKGROUND: In spite of the clear evidence of benefit of aspirin in the secondary prevention of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular thrombotic events, its use in patients at high risk due to a previous event remains suboptimal. A possible explanation for this underuse is concern regarding the relative benefit in relation to the potential risk for serious gastrointestinal events. OBJECTIVE: To compare the benefit and gastrointestinal risk of aspirin use for the secondary prevention of thromboembolic events. DESIGN: A meta-analysis was conducted using 6 trials (6300 patients) meeting the inclusion requirement of use of low-dose aspirin (< or =325 mg/d) in approved secondary prevention indications. RESULTS:Aspirin reduced all-cause mortality by 18%. In addition, aspirin use reduced the number of strokes by 20%, myocardial infarctions by 30%, and other "vascular events" by 30%. Alternately, patients who took aspirin were 2.5 times more likely than those in the placebo group to have gastrointestinal tract bleeding. The number needed to treat for aspirin to prevent 1 death from any cause of mortality was 67, while 100 needed to be treated to detect 1 nonfatal gastrointestinal tract bleeding. CONCLUSION:Aspirin use for the secondary prevention of thromboembolic events has a favorable benefit-to-risk profile and should be encouraged in those at high risk.
Authors: Vera E Valkhoff; Miriam C J M Sturkenboom; Catherine Hill; Sander Veldhuyzen van Zanten; Ernst J Kuipers Journal: Can J Gastroenterol Date: 2013-03 Impact factor: 3.522
Authors: H T Jørstad; A M W Alings; A H Liem; C von Birgelen; J G P Tijssen; C J de Vries; D J A Lok; J A Kragten; R J G Peters Journal: Neth Heart J Date: 2009-09 Impact factor: 2.380