US Pharm. 2014;39(12):7.
Chicago, IL—For the last several years, the routine use of aspirin in preventing a first heart attack has been an ongoing topic of debate. The Japanese Primary Prevention Project found no benefit of low-dose, once-daily aspirin in the primary prevention of cardiovascular events in elderly patients with multiple risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes. Compared with placebo, there was no significant difference for the composite endpoint of nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), nonfatal stroke, and death from cardiovascular causes. Any reductions in MI and transient ischemic attack were offset by a significant increase in serious extracranial hemorrhage. Results were presented at the American Heart Association 2014 Scientific Sessions and published online in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
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