title: Preventive Aspirin and Other Antiplatelet Medication Use Among U.S. Adults Aged ≥ 40 Years: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011-2012.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We estimated the prevalence of preventive aspirin and/or other antiplatelet medication use and the dosage of aspirin use in the U.S. adult population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted cross-sectional analyses of a representative sample (n=3,599) of U.S. adults aged ≥ 40 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011-2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2011-2012, one-third of U.S. adults aged ≥ 40 years reported taking preventive aspirin and/or other antiplatelet medications, 97% of whom indicated preventive aspirin use. Preventive aspirin use increased with age (from 11% of those aged 40-49 years to 54% of those ≥ 80 years of age, p<0.001). Non-Hispanic white (35%) and black (30%) adults were more likely to take preventive aspirin than non-Hispanic Asian (20%, p<0.001) and Hispanic (22%, p=0.013) adults. Adults with, compared with those without health insurance, and adults with ≥ 2 doctor visits in the past year, diagnosed diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol were twice as likely to take preventive aspirin. Among those with cardiovascular disease, 76% reported taking preventive aspirin and/or other antiplatelet medications, of whom 91% were taking preventive aspirin. Among adults without cardiovascular disease, 28% reported taking preventive aspirin. Adherence rates to medically recommended aspirin use were 82% overall, 91% for secondary prevention, and 79% for primary prevention. Among current preventive aspirin users, 70% were taking 81 milligrams (mg) of aspirin daily and 13% were taking 325 mg of aspirin daily.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The vast majority of antiplatelet therapy is preventive aspirin use. A health-care provider's recommendation to take preventive aspirin is an important determinant of current preventive aspirin use.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, Hyattsville, MD.
authors.forename: Qiuping
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, Hyattsville, MD.
authors.forename: Charles F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Dillon
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, Hyattsville, MD.
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Eberhardt
authors.affiliation: National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD.
authors.forename: Jacqueline D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, Hyattsville, MD.
authors.forename: Vicki L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Burt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011322:Primary Prevention; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin