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Warning over risks of taking aspirin
LOW-dose aspirin should not routinely be used to prevent heart attacks and strokes, contrary to official guidance, say UK researchers.
Analysis of data from over 100,000 clinical trial participants found the risk of harm largely cancelled out the benefits of taking the drug.
Only those who have already had a heart attack or stroke should be advised to take a daily aspirin.
The Lancet study should help clarify a "confusing" issue, GPs said.
Professor Colin Baigent, study leader said: “We don't have good evidence that, for healthy people, the benefits of long-term aspirin exceed the risks by an appropriate margin.”
The study looked at heart attacks and strokes and major bleeds – a potential side effect of aspirin – in six primary prevention trials.
They involved 95,000 people at low to average risk and 16 trials involving 17,000 people at high risk - because they had already had a heart attack or stroke.
Use of aspirin in the lower-risk group was found to reduce non-fatal heart attacks by around a fifth.
But it also increased the risk of internal bleeding by around a third.
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Wednesday 30 May 2012
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