This is my 2018 post updating guidance on aspirin usage in light of the ASPREE trial. It includes a detailed look at the study and was inadvertently deleted as I put together my post on the draft 2021 USPSTF recommendations for aspirin usage.
I’ve gotten lots of questions in the last few days from patients who have had coronary stents in the past questioning whether they should stay on aspirin.
The answer is YES!.
If you have had a stent stay on aspirin unless your cardiologist says it is OK to stop.
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Four years ago the skeptical cardiologist wrote the (in his extremely humble and biased opinion) the definitive post on aspirin and cardiovascular disease. Entitled “Should I take aspirin to prevent stroke or heart attack“, it pointed out that although Dr. Oz had recently told almost all middle-aged women to take a baby aspirin and fish oil, there was, in fact no evidence to support that practice.
The publication of the ASPREE (Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) trial results in the latest issue of the New England Journal of Medicine further strengthens the points I made in 2014.
Between 2010 and 2014 the ASPREE investigators enrolled over 19,000 community-dwelling persons in Australia and the United States who were 70 years of age or older (or ≥65 years of age among blacks and Hispanics in the United States) and did not have cardiovascular disease, dementia, or disability.
(It’s important to look closely at the precise inclusion and exclusion criteria in randomized studies to understand fully the implications of the results (for example, what qualified as cardiovascular disease) and I’ve listed them at the end of this post.)
Study participants were randomly assigned to receive 100 mg of enteric-coated aspirin or placebo. At the end of the study about 2/3 of participants in both groups were still taking their pills.
When I wrote about aspirin in 2014 I focused on cardiovascular disease. At that time, there was some reasonable evidence that aspirin might lower the risk of colorectal cancer. But when we look at outcomes the bottom line is how the drug influences the overall mix of diseases and deaths.
The ASPREE researchers chose disability-free survival, defined as survival free from dementia or persistent physical disability (inability to perform or severe difficulty in performing at least one of the six basic activities of daily living that had persisted for at least 6 month) as their primary end-point which makes a lot of sense-patients don’t want to just live longer, they want to live longer with a good quality of life. If aspirin, to take a totally hypothetical example) is stopping people from dying from heart attacks but making them demented it’s not benefiting them overall.
After 5 years there was no difference in the rate of death, dementia or permanent physical disability between the aspirin group (21.5 events per 1000 person-years) and placebo group (21.2 per 1000).
However those taking aspirin had a significantly higher rate of major bleeding (3.8%) than those taking placebo (2.8%).
The risk of death from any cause was 12.7 events per 1000 person-years in the aspirin group and 11.1 events per 1000 person-years in the placebo group.. Cancer was the major contributor to the higher mortality in the aspirin group, accounting for 1.6 excess deaths per 1000 person-years.
And, despite prior analyses suggesting aspirin reduces colorectal cancer the opposite was found in this study. Aspirin takers were 1.8 times more likely to die from colorectal cancer and 2.2 times more likely to die from breast cancer.
Did Aspirin Reduce Cardiovascular Events?
No. It did not.
A separate paper analyzed cardiovascular outcomes
After a median of 4.7 years of follow-up, the rate of cardiovascular disease was 10.7 events per 1000 person-years in the aspirin group and 11.3 events per 1000 person-years in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83 to 1.08). The rate of major hemorrhage was 8.6 events per 1000 person-years and 6.2 events per 1000 person-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.18 to 1.62; P<0.001).
The ASPREE study confirms what I advised in 2014 and hopefully will further reduce the inappropriate consumption of aspirin among low risk individuals.
I’ve taken more patients off aspirin since 2014 than I’ve started on and what I wrote then remains relevant and reflects my current practice. Especially in light of the increase cancer risk noted in ASPREE patients should only take aspirin for good reasons.
Below is my 2014 post entitled “Should I Take Aspirin To Prevent Heart Attack or Stroke.”
Aspirin is a unique drug, the prototypical two-edged sword of pharmaceuticals. It t has the capability of stopping platelets, the sticky elements in our blood, from forming clots that cause strokes and heart attacks when arterial plaques rupture, but it increases the risk of serious bleeding into the brain or from the GI tract. Despite these powerful properties, aspirin is available over the counter and is very cheap, thus anyone can take it in any dosage they want.
Who Should Take Aspirin?
For the last five years I’ve been advising my patients who have no evidence of atherosclerotic vascular disease against taking aspirin to prevent heart attack and stroke. Several comprehensive reviews of all the randomized trials of aspirin had concluded by 2011 that
The current totality of evidence provides only modest support for a benefit of aspirin in patients without clinical cardiovascular disease, which is offset by its risk. For every 1,000 subjects treated with aspirin over a 5-year period, aspirin would prevent 2.9 MCE and cause 2.8 major bleeds.
(MCE=major cardiovascular events, e.g. stroke, heart attack, death from cardiovascular disease)
Dr. Oz, on the other hand, came to St. Louis in 2011 to have lunch with five hundred women and advised them all to take a baby aspirin daily (and fish oil, which is not indicated for primary prevention as I have discussed here). When I saw these women subsequently in my office I had to spend a fair amount of our visit explaining why they didn’t need to take aspirin and fish oil.
After reviewing available data, the FDA this week issued a statementrecommending against aspirin use for the prevention of a first heart attack or stroke in patients with no history of cardiovascular disease (i.e. for primary prevention). The FDA pointed out that aspirin use is associated with “serious risks,” including increased risk of bleeding in the stomach and brain. As for secondary prevention for people with cardiovascular disease or those who have had a previous heart attack or stroke (secondary prevention), the available evidence continues to support aspirin use.
Subclinical Atherosclerosis and Aspirin usage
As I’ve discussed previously, however, many individuals who have not had a stroke or heart attack are walking around with a substantial burden of atherosclerosis in their arteries. Fatty plaques can become quite advanced in the arteries to the brain and heart before they obstruct blood flow and cause symptoms. In such individuals with subclinical atherosclerosis aspirin is going to be much more beneficial.
Guided Use of Aspirin
We have the tools available to look for atherosclerotic plaques before they rupture and cause heart attacks or stroke. Ultrasound screening of the carotid artery, as I discussed here, is one such tool: vascular screening is an accurate, harmless and painless way to assess for subclinical atherosclerosis.
Coronary calcium is another, which I’ve written extensively about.
In my practice, the answer to the question of who should or should not take aspirin is based on whether my patient has or does not have significant atherosclerosis. If they have had a clinical event due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (stroke, heart attack, coronary stent, coronary bypass surgery, documented blocked arteries to the legs) I recommend they take one 81 milligram (baby) uncoated aspirin daily. If they have not had a clinical event but I have documented by either
- vascular screening (significant carotid plaque)
- coronary calcium score (high score (cut-off is debatable, more on this in a subsequent post)
- Incidentally discovered significant plaque in the aorta or peripheral arteries (found by CT or ultrasound done for other reasons)
then I recommend a daily baby aspirin (assuming no high risk of bleeding).
There are no randomized trials testing this approach but in the next few years several large aspirin trials will be completed and hopefully we will get a better understanding of who benefits most from aspirin for primary prevention.
Until then remember that aspirin is a powerful drug with potential for good and bad effects on your body. Only take it if you and your health care provider have decided the benefits outweigh the risks after careful consideration of your particular situation
Acetylsalicylically Yours,
-ACP
The inclusion criteria for ASPREE define significant cardiovascular disease as follows
a past history of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular event or established CVD, defined as myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure, angina pectoris, stroke, transient ischemic attack, >50% carotid stenosis or previous carotid endarterectomy or stenting, coronary artery angioplasty or stenting, coronary artery bypass grafting, abdominal aortic aneurysm
26 thoughts on “Revisiting Who Should Take Aspirin”
Hi, Thank you for this post and all of your other ones. My doctor is recommending that I start taking statins and a baby aspirin and I am reluctant to do so. I am a 63-year-old woman with low blood pressure. My father had his first heart attack at age 49 and a second fatal heart attack at age 65. I had a coronary calcium test and received a score of 14. I had a carotid ultrasound which showed calcified plaque and 8% stenosis in the right carotid artery and no plaque in the left. Lipid panel is total cholesterol of 210, HDL = 59, LDL = 106, Triglycerides =125. Chol/HDL = 3.56. I put my numbers into the Mesa calculator and it shows a risk of 2.7 – 3%. I am not overweight, have never smoked, exercise regularly and have been eating a mostly plant based diet for decades. My doctor became more concerned about my cardiac status upon seeing the results of my cardiac calcium test which I had decided to take for more information about my health. Until then, she had not been recommending statins or a baby aspirin. What do you think? Thank you!
Deb,
A CAC score of 14 for a 63 year old (white) woman is at the 66th percentile so you have built up more subclinical atherosclerosis than 66 percent of your peers despite your exemplary lifestyle. You are not as high as the woman I wrote about (https://theskepticalcardiologist.com/2014/11/15/dealing-with-the-cardiovascular-cards-youve-been-dealt/) a while back who also had perfect diet and lifestyle but like her you’ve probably inherited some bad cardiovascular cards.
Your 10 year risk of heart attack or stroke is not at the level guidelines would recommend starting a statin discussion but your lifetime risk of an event is what we really care about. if you wanted to be very proactive you could start a low dose of a statin to lower that lifetime risk something i discussed in detail here (https://theskepticalcardiologist.com/2017/06/04/unsure-about-taking-a-statin-for-high-cholesterol-consider-a-compromise-approach/)
My aspirin recommendation is for those with CAC >100 which you have not reached.
Also, for anybody on the fence about taking a statin and for anybody with a family history of premature heart attack I advise checking in addition to the standard lipid panel
1. hs-CRP to measure inflammation
2. lipoprotein (a)
3. Apolipoprotein B
Dr P
Thank you for your helpful comments. It would be more accurate for me to say that my reluctance is more about timing of when to start statins, not taking them per se. I accept that I will need to take them and I’m wondering about starting them now versus waiting for some clearer sign that I should start, but I’m not sure what that would be. I remember your post about taking a low-dose statin and will reread that one. I have been lucky to get to the age of 63 without being on any kind of long-term daily medication and it’s hard for me to give that up so I find myself hoping to delay it. So for now I am caught in indecision. I will also talk to my doctor about ordering the other tests you recommended. I so appreciate your blog and your kindness and willingness to help.
Very important and well-supported information – thank you. My question is what you would advise to someone in their early 70s who has been taking 81 mg. aspirin daily but is not in a group you would advise to take aspirin. If you would advise stopping, what is the safest way to do that (I have read that a rebound effect is possible, i.e., stroke or cardiac event)?
George,
Sorry for the delayed response.
Aspirin slowly washes out of your system over about one week.
If you are low risk as you describe there should be no issue in just stopping it altogether without tapering or concern.
Dr. P
George,
Sorry for the delayed response.
Aspirin slowly washes out of your system over about one week.
If you are low risk as you describe there should be no issue in just stopping it altogether without tapering or concern.
Dr. P
I know talking about covid early/preventative treatment is frowned upon, but isn’t there some discussion about aspirin vs the blood-clotting effects of covid?
Thank you for your informative blog. It’s tied together many things I’ve been reading about lately concerning heart disease. Since Dec 2020, I’ve modified my diet to low carb & no processed foods, lost 15 lbs, took a CAC test (144), visited my Dr to begin BP med and after using the recommended risk calculator with her, began a low dose statin (not because of high cholesterol, but to help stabilize existing plaque). I’ve taken four blood tests since December and my TGL has dramatically dropped, HDL increased and insulin sensitivity tests all improved significantly. With recent positive news about aspirin as a treatment for COVID, I started thinking about low dose aspirin again and then I received your newsletter this a.m.! With my CAC score I’ll be adding an aspirin and discussing further with my Dr. Thank you!
Greg Halliday
Your closing sign-offs are always the best. I had to look at it twice. Like you, Quizzify has been cautioning about this for years…
thank you for your article and in Australia today this was on the news.
I will see my cardiologist in a few weeks about this , in the meantime may I ask; In 2013 I had coronary angiogram due to prior CT scans showing the blockages, revealing two 80% lad blockages, yet for the last 12 years since first discovered, I am Asymptomatic and my last stress echo all perfect 10 mins 160 heart rate max for my age 59. I only ever got angina once back in 2008 and since then symptom free.
In light of the current data should I be able to consider to remove myself from 12 years on enteric coated aspirin 100mg with no presenting issues? or given I have history of blockages and calcium score of 200 is it better to use for prevention?, otherwise Im healthy and good diet little stress
Thank you Mark
Mark,
You would fall into the second category of patients I see and recommend aspirin for. Although yours is a case of primary prevention (no stenting I presume and no heart attack or stroke history) it appears substantial subclinical atherosclerosis (the 80% LAD blockaage) was identified.
You did provid your age and at 59 this is advanced subclinical atherosclerosis and should be aggressively treated and I would typically recommend aspirin in this situation unless there were bleeding risks or other issues with aspirin
dr P
Thanks so much for your explanation of who should take aspirin and what constitutes “significant cardiovascular disease”. I believe my condition of renovascular hypertension (obstruction of renal artery by plaque) also qualifies. I am guessing this falls under “significant plaque in peripheral arteries”. I have 3 stents in one of my renal arteries and take 81 mg aspirin, following a year of Plavix. I also take 40 mg Lipitor, and 20 mg Xarelto for 2 chronic pulmonary embolisms. 68 years old.
I think you would have been excluded from the ASPREE trial due to the presumably atherosclerotic obstruction of the renal artery. But you also are more complicated due to the need to take the anticoagulant Xarelto. Who should take aspirin plus anticoagulants like Xarelto is a topic of much debate
Reblogged this on lifeunderwriter.net and commented:
The Skeptical Cardiologist weighs in on the aspirin debate.
Thank you Dr. Pearson.
What about people who have high lipoprotein a (Lp(a))? Does the positive of aspirin outweigh the negative for those people?
David,
Only if the lipoprotein(a) is putting them a high risk for stroke and heart attack
Thanks very much for the response Dr. P
I may need to re-think taking baby aspirin as I already take Crestor, and blood pressure is well controlled.
I have read that stopping daily aspirin therapy can be potentially dangerous, but would that include short term stoppage for platelet donations? Another great post, thanks!
Also, I would be (very) interested to know about your ‘attachment’ / interest in Chang Bai Shan (‘Great White Mountain’ on the border of China / N Korea; one of the world’s largest stratovolcanoes)??? FWIW, we have(nick-)named one of our grandchildren (boy) with this name. My wife is Chinese/Taiwanese; my daughter has lived for 15? years in Beijing… All speak Mandarin (& English)…
James,
I must admit I had no idea what your comment was referring to until I took time this morning to Google Chang Bai Shan. And came across this image (https://www.chinatravel.com/yanbian-attraction/changbai-mountain/) which looks strikingly similar to the image I recently switched my Header to. Mine is from our recent trip to Ecuador and the Gallapagos, however. It is Quilotoa, a volcanic crater very similar to the Chinese one.
GOOD comments / perspective on this most current evidence / study — THANKS… Additionally, it would be GOOD to get your perspective re 81mg aspirin — when taken in conjunction with ‘blood thinners’: clopidogrel (Plavix); Pradaxa (dabigatran etexilate); baby aspirin (81mg) — & especially when taken together — e.g., for aFib / aFlutter???
James,
Thanks. Your question is a really good one. One thing is clear-don’t take aspirin plus the newer anticoagulants(Eliquis/Xarelto/Pradaxa/Edoxban) or warfarin unless there is a really good reason .I take lots of patients off aspirin who are on both. We use plavix plus aspirin for one year post drug eluting stent and then stop the plavix to minimize bleeding complications, More nuanced/detailed response requires volumes of writing.
Bingo. While my stenting is 10 years old and I was taken off a year later. My cardio reinstated Plavix and put me on
Elliquis when Afib developed. But warned me against Aspirin.
My hometown newspaper, The Houston Chronicle, carries Dr. Oz’ column. Am guessing it helps sell papers, and the publishers are desperate. On the same day that the paper carried the results of these recent studies showing no benefit in taking low-dose aspirin for healthy people, Dr. Oz’ column recommend two low-dose aspirin per day for all. Caveat emptor (as Mrs. Ellsworth would have said).
So Dr. Oz was literally doubling down on his misguided aspirin advice. The man has zero credibility.
Is the advice the same for diabetics. I have noted that some recommendations, like whether to take statins, different for diabetics than others. It seems that many studies exclude diabetics so there is less available information on which to base recommendations for those patients.