New Study Reveals That Low-dose Aspirin May Not Be Effective for Preventing Stroke in the Elderly
A new study, published in JAMA Network Open, suggests that taking low-dose aspirin daily may not be as beneficial for primary prevention of stroke in the elderly as previously believed. In fact, the study found that it can increase the risk of bleeding within the brain tissue.
The study involved 19,114 elderly participants, with half receiving aspirin and the other half receiving a placebo. After a follow-up period of 4.7 years, the researchers discovered that there was no significant reduction in ischemic stroke, also known as clot-related stroke, between the two groups. However, they did find a statistically significant 38% increase in intracranial bleeding, which includes bleeding within the brain tissue.
Dr. MV Padma Srivastava, a professor and head of neurology at AIIMS, stated that this study reaffirms what experts have been saying for a while. She emphasized the importance of analyzing the risks versus the benefits, especially among elderly individuals who are already at risk of head injury from falls. Dr. JD Mukherji, vice chairman and head of neurology at Max healthcare, also mentioned that the role of aspirin in primary prevention still needs to be determined.
Aspirin is an antiplatelet agent commonly used in low doses (75-100 mg/d) for the prevention of cardiovascular events. However, its major adverse effect is an increased bleeding tendency. Despite some recent unfavorable findings, the medicine continues to be widely used for primary and secondary prevention of stroke.
“The principal finding of this secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial was an increase in intracerebral hemorrhagic events, which in absolute terms outweighed a smaller and non-significant reduction in ischemic strokes,” the researchers concluded in the JAMA study.
The study highlights the need for careful consideration when prescribing low-dose aspirin for stroke prevention in the elderly. Further research is necessary to determine the appropriate use and potential risks of this medication in primary prevention.