OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of acetylsalicylic acid therapy and effect of the drug on hemoglobin concentration over time. DESIGN: Retrospective, observational study. SETTING: Primary care population in a university-affiliated family medicine clinic. PATIENTS: A population-based sample of 80 patients receiving low-dose ASA for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease was studied. Of 84 patients receiving the drug after a cardiovascular problem, four were excluded: one man died of a recurrent stroke during the study; the file of a second man was unavailable; another man developed a bleeding ulcer; and one woman had been taking ASA for only 1 month when the data were collated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic variables of patients taking low-dose ASA, duration of ASA use, and two successive measures of hemoglobin level. RESULTS: The frequency of ASA administration was 7.7% for men aged 60 and older and 2.9% for women. Women had no significant change in hemoglobin levels, while men had a mean loss of 0.472 g/dL (95% confidence interval, .198 to .746; P = .009). For the study population as a whole (80 patients), the average decline was 0.294 g/dL (95% confidence interval, .039 to .549; P = .029). CONCLUSIONS: Although the clinical significance of these findings is uncertain, they suggest the need for a prospective investigation of the influence of low-dose ASA on hemoglobin levels.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of acetylsalicylic acid therapy and effect of the drug on hemoglobin concentration over time. DESIGN: Retrospective, observational study. SETTING: Primary care population in a university-affiliated family medicine clinic. PATIENTS: A population-based sample of 80 patients receiving low-dose ASA for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease was studied. Of 84 patients receiving the drug after a cardiovascular problem, four were excluded: one man died of a recurrent stroke during the study; the file of a second man was unavailable; another man developed a bleeding ulcer; and one woman had been taking ASA for only 1 month when the data were collated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic variables of patients taking low-dose ASA, duration of ASA use, and two successive measures of hemoglobin level. RESULTS: The frequency of ASA administration was 7.7% for men aged 60 and older and 2.9% for women. Women had no significant change in hemoglobin levels, while men had a mean loss of 0.472 g/dL (95% confidence interval, .198 to .746; P = .009). For the study population as a whole (80 patients), the average decline was 0.294 g/dL (95% confidence interval, .039 to .549; P = .029). CONCLUSIONS: Although the clinical significance of these findings is uncertain, they suggest the need for a prospective investigation of the influence of low-dose ASA on hemoglobin levels.
Authors: P Théroux; H Ouimet; J McCans; J G Latour; P Joly; G Lévy; E Pelletier; M Juneau; J Stasiak; P deGuise Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1988-10-27 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: J A Cairns; M Gent; J Singer; K J Finnie; G M Froggatt; D A Holder; G Jablonsky; W J Kostuk; L J Melendez; M G Myers Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1985-11-28 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: H D Lewis; J W Davis; D G Archibald; W E Steinke; T C Smitherman; J E Doherty; H W Schnaper; M M LeWinter; E Linares; J M Pouget; S C Sabharwal; E Chesler; H DeMots Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1983-08-18 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: M G Bousser; E Eschwege; M Haguenau; J M Lefaucconnier; N Thibult; D Touboul; P J Touboul Journal: Stroke Date: 1983 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 7.914