Daily aspirin use linked to higher risk of bleeding in older patients
A new 10-year study has showed that people over 75 years old who take aspirin daily to prevent heart attacks face an elevated risk of fatal bleeding and should be administered heartburn drugs to minimize the danger, Reuters reports.
The researchers who conducted the study said the findings shouldn’t discourage patients from taking aspirin, but that they should take a proton pump inhibitor heartburn drug as well.
"In people under 75 the benefits of taking aspirin for secondary prevention after a heart attack or stroke clearly outweigh the relatively small risk of bleeding. These people needn't worry," Rothwell said. "[For those over 75], the risk of a serious bleed is higher, but the key point is that this risk is substantially preventable by taking proton pump inhibitors alongside aspirin."
To read the full study, follow the link below.
Senior Writer
As a Senior Writer for TriMed Media Group, Katherine primarily focuses on producing news stories, Q&As and features for Cardiovascular Business. She reports on several facets of the cardiology industry, including emerging technology, new clinical trials and findings, and quality initiatives among providers. She is based out of TriMed's Chicago office and holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Columbia College Chicago. Her work has appeared in Modern Healthcare, Crain's Chicago Business and The Detroit News. She joined TriMed in 2016.