Asprin Use to Fight Coronary Disease and Colorectal Cancer: US Preventive Service Recommendation

[CoastWatcher]

http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2513179


The "Annals of Internal Medicine" has published Aspirin Use for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Colorectal Cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement Aspirin Use for the Primary Prevention of CVD and CRC.

The USPSTF recommends initiating low-dose aspirin use for the primary prevention of CVD and CRC in adults aged 50 to 59 years who have a 10% or greater 10-year CVD risk, are not at increased risk for bleeding, have a life expectancy of at least 10 years, and are willing to take low-dose aspirin daily for at least 10 years

 

[John O'Connor]

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...e-should-take-it-prevent-heart-attack-n554671

Mixed message:
"Adults aged 50 to 59 who have at least a 10 percent risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next decade can benefit the most from taking 81 milligrams of aspirin a day, according to the new guidelines.
The advice doesn't apply to people in their 60s because the bleeding risk increases with age, however, and the jury is still out on whether this approach makes sense for people under 50 or over 70, the Task Force concluded."
"Some people may benefit from aspirin more than others, which is why there are several recommendations based on age," Bibbins-Domino added by email. The Task Force encourages people to talk with their doctor about whether taking aspirin is appropriate, she said.

But the Task Force is at odds with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which has denied efforts by Bayer HealthCare LLC to market aspirin for preventing heart attacks and strokes in people with no history of cardiovascular disease.

"All that aspirin does if your heart attack risk is really low is cause you harm," said Dr. Steven Nissen, who served on an FDA advisory panel that recommended against widespread use of aspirin for primary prevention and chairs the department of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

My take - in summary - its not so clear cut that everyone should be taking it.

 

[Vince]

Aspirin and platelets: the antiplatelet action of aspirin and its role in thrombosis treatment and prophylaxis. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9263351