A 16-month community-based intervention to increase aspirin use for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.
BACKGROUND
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of disability and death in the United States. Primary prevention of these events may be achieved through aspirin use. The ability of a community-based intervention to increase aspirin use has not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to evaluate an educational intervention implemented to increase aspirin use for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in a small city in Minnesota.


METHODS
A community-based intervention was implemented during 16 months in a medium-sized community in Minnesota. Messages for aspirin use were disseminated to individuals, health care professionals, and the general population. Independent cross-sectional samples of residents (men aged 45-79, women aged 55-79) were surveyed by telephone to identify candidates for primary prevention aspirin use, examine their characteristics, and determine regular aspirin use at baseline and after the campaign at 4 months and 16 months.


RESULTS
In primary prevention candidates, regular aspirin use rates increased from 36% at baseline to 54% at 4 months (odds ratio = 2.05; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-3.88); the increase was sustained at 52% at 16 months (odds ratio = 1.89; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-3.49). The difference in aspirin use rates at 4 months and 16 months was not significant (P = .77).


CONCLUSIONS
Aspirin use rates for primary prevention remain low. A combined public health and primary care approach can increase and sustain primary prevention aspirin use in a community setting.
Cardiovascular Division, University of Minnesota Medical School, MMC 508, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. E-mail: olden019@umn.edu.
Niki C
NC
Oldenburg
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Sue
S
Duval
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Russell V
RV
Luepker
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
John R
JR
Finnegan
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Heather
H
LaMarre
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Kevin A
KA
Peterson
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Nicole D
ND
Zantek
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Ginny
G
Jacobs
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Robert J
RJ
Straka
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Karen H
KH
Miller
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Alan T
AT
Hirsch
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003153:Community Health Services; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D011322:Primary Prevention; D015397:Program Evaluation
D001241:Aspirin