title: A quantitative illustration of the public health potential of aspirin.
abstract: Aspirin is showing potential in reducing the risk of several diseases of public health importance. These include cardiovascular disease, cancer and Alzheimer's disease. In this paper, a fictional scenario is considered in which 50 year old individuals are encouraged to take aspirin. Using crude assumptions and simple calculations, a Kaplan-Meier survival curve of aspirin users is presented. The main finding of this exercise is the possibility that the long-term use of low dose aspirin may double the chances of individuals living a healthy life into their 90's. Further research is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Iechyd Morgannwg Health Authority, Swansea, Wales, UK. gareth.morgan@morgannwg-ha.wales.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Gareth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D013534:Survival; D016019:Survival Analysis; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001241:Aspirin