Some older patients taking aspirin to prevent CVD may be doing more harm than good
One in four older adults regularly take low-dose aspirin, according to a new report out of the University of Michigan (UM). A majority of those patients have no history of cardiovascular disease (CVD), suggesting they should have a conversation with their doctor to find out if the aspirin is even recommended.
Many older adults are taking daily aspirin because it was recommended as a way to limit the risk of myocardial infarction or stroke for many years. That has started to change over time, however, particularly due to the fact that taking aspirin can increase a person’s bleeding risk. In 2022, for example, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force specifically said no patients 60 years old or older should take daily aspirin for the primary prevention of CVD.
“Aspirin is no longer a one-size-fits-all preventive tool for older adults, which for decades it was touted as,” Jordan Schaefer, MD, MSc, a hematologist at Michigan Medicine, said in a statement out of UM. “This poll shows we have a long way to go to make sure aspirin use is consistent with current knowledge.”
“As guidelines change, it’s important for everyone over 40 to talk with their health care provider about their individual cardiovascular risk based on their family history, past health issues, current medications, recent test results like blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, and lifestyle factors like smoking, physical activity and eating habits,” added Geoffrey Barnes, MD, MSc, a Michigan Medicine cardiologist. “Preventive aspirin use should be based on age, plus these factors.”
A closer look at the National Poll on Healthy Aging
The UM Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation publishes the National Poll on Healthy Aging (NPHA) twice per year, tracking responses from approximately 2,000 adults between the ages of 50 and 80 years old. AARP and Michigan Medicine both collaborated on this latest installment of the poll, which aims to prevent a representative view of the health of older U.S. adults.
Overall, 25% of poll respondents said they take low-dose aspirin at least three times per week, and the primary reason is to prevent CVD and adverse cardiovascular events. That number jumps to 42% when focused on respondents between the ages of 75 and 80 years old. Meanwhile, 57% of patients taking regular aspirin said they do not have a history of CVD, and 31% of that same group said they are unaware of the relationship between aspirin and bleeding events.
Click here for a full report on this most recent NPHA.
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.