Aspirin for the primary prevention of cardiovascular events.
There is significant evidence that low-dose aspirin is effective in preventing the first myocardial infarction in men and ischemic stroke in women. There is also an increased risk for major gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage and a suggestive, but nonsignificant, increase in the risk for hemorrhagic stroke. If there is a history of ulcer disease or upper-gastrointestinal tract bleeding, Helicobacter pylori should be eradicated (if present) and a proton pump inhibitor used with aspirin therapy. In conclusion, the benefits of low-dose aspirin (75-162 mg/day) in the prevention of myocardial infarction in men and thrombotic stroke in women generally outweigh the risks of serious bleeding in adults with a coronary heart disease risk >1% per year or >1% in 10 years.
Colwell
John A
JA
Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, USA. colwelja@musc.edu
D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin