Title: Low-Dose Aspirin Reduces Type 2 Diabetes Risk in Older Adults, Study Finds
Subtitle: Research suggests potential role of anti-inflammatory approaches in preventing diabetes
Date: [Current Date]
A recent analysis of the ASPREE trial has revealed that low-dose aspirin may help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in older adults while slowing the increase in fasting glucose levels. The trial, which involved a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of healthy individuals aged 65 years or older, found that daily intake of 100 mg of aspirin for approximately five years did not provide cardiovascular benefits. However, it did significantly raise the risk of bleeding.
The findings from this secondary analysis indicate that individuals taking aspirin had a 15% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those on a placebo. Additionally, the medication was found to slow the rate of increase in fasting plasma glucose levels during the follow-up period. Despite these promising findings, lead author Sophia Zoungas emphasizes that current prescribing guidelines recommend older adults to take daily aspirin only when there is a specific medical reason, such as after a heart attack. Therefore, these results do not currently alter the clinical advice on aspirin use in older individuals.
Zoungas further notes that although the findings are exploratory, they spark a debate about the potential importance of anti-inflammatory approaches in preventing diabetes. Ongoing research aims to identify which subpopulations may benefit more from this treatment and to evaluate the balance of risks and benefits.
The results of the analysis are scheduled to be presented at the upcoming European Association for the Study of Diabetes meeting held in Hamburg, Germany, from October 2nd to October 6th.
In response to the study’s findings, Dr. Debabrata Mukherjee, professor and chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, cautions against altering current practice based solely on these results. Mukherjee highlights that the analysis was a post hoc secondary study and recommends awaiting prospective randomized trials to validate the findings. He also points out that previous studies have shown the risks of aspirin to outweigh the benefits, especially in older adults.
The ASPREE trial previously demonstrated that low-dose aspirin did not reduce fracture risk and was associated with an increased risk of serious falls. Likewise, other trials, such as ARRIVE and ASCEND, suggested that the harms of aspirin outweigh the benefits in individuals at cardiovascular risk but not those with diabetes or vice versa.
With the American College of Cardiology and the American Diabetes Association already recommending against routine administration of low-dose aspirin in adults above the age of 70, these recent findings do not, for now, warrant a change in practice. Instead, lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise and a healthy diet, remain the primary recommendation for minimizing diabetes risk.
The ASPREE trial involved 16,209 community-dwelling participants without diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or dementia at the start. They were randomly assigned to receive 100 mg of enteric-coated aspirin or a placebo, and over a median follow-up of 4.7 years, the incidence of type 2 diabetes was lower in the aspirin group. The annual rate of increase in fasting plasma glucose was also significantly slower in the aspirin group.
Lead author Zoungas concludes that further investigation is required to fully understand the potential role of anti-inflammatory agents like aspirin in preventing type 2 diabetes and improving glucose levels.
The ASPREE trial received support from various organizations, including the US National Institutes of Health, the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, Monash University, and the Victorian Cancer Agency. Neither Zoungas nor Mukherjee disclosed any relevant financial disclosures.
Source:
– [European Association for the Study of Diabetes 2023 Annual Meeting](URL) (Abstract 175. To be presented October 5, 2023)
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