title: Low-dose acetylsalicylic acid use and hemoglobin levels. Effects in a primary care population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of acetylsalicylic acid therapy and effect of the drug on hemoglobin concentration over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary care population in a university-affiliated family medicine clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leibovici
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lavi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wainstok
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.forename: V W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Greene
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D001241:Aspirin