title: Aspirin use and risk of stroke in the elderly: the Rotterdam Study.
abstract: The objective of the study was to assess the association between aspirin use and the risk of stroke in a population-based study in the elderly. The study was carried out within the framework of the Rotterdam Study, a prospective population-based cohort study. In the total study population there was a weak, nonsignificant association between aspirin use and the risk of stroke (adjusted relative risk 1.29, 95% CI 0.91-1.83). Stratification by history of vascular diseases revealed that aspirin considerably increased the risk of first-ever stroke in subjects free from vascular disease (adjusted relative risk 1.80; 95% CI 1.03-3.13). In persons with vascular disease, no association was observed between aspirin use and risk of stroke (adjusted relative risk 0.99, 95% CI 0.56-1.73). Our findings suggest that aspirin use may increase the risk of stroke in elderly subjects free from vascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Vokó
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Koudstaal
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bots
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Breteler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D001241:Aspirin