Study: Baby Aspirin Every Day Can Keep 1st Heart Attack, Cancer Away
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Should you take aspirin every day to live longer?
A University of Southern California study says a baby aspirin a day can keep a first heart attack and cancer away.
"Aspirin in primary prevention does have a role, but it's a complicated role, where we have to weigh the risks and benefits," cautions Dr. Marc Itskowitz, an internist at Allegheny General Hospital.
Researchers used computer modeling based on results from an ongoing national survey about health and retirement.
"It was a statistical modeling study. It wasn't an actual clinical trial," Dr. Itskowitz points out. "But they were definitely able to show a benefit, both in terms of life expectancy, as well as reducing the risk of heart disease."
Currently, daily aspirin is recommended only for people with known risks for heart attack and stroke, like diabetes, family history, or smoking.
The medicine has not been recommended for daily use for everyone, because the risk of bleeding and stomach irritation outweighs the benefit...a problem more common in older people, men, and diabetics.
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A risk calculator helps to show the benefit. If the 10 year risk of heart attack is greater than 10 percent, a daily aspirin is called for.
Even so, not everyone at risk takes aspirin.
"Many patients just don't want to take a daily medication," Dr. Itskowitz acknowledges.
The study authors say that if everyone 50 and older took aspirin the way they should, for every 1,000 people, it would fend off 11 cases of heart disease and four cases of cancer. Other studies point out there would also be about 10 cases of bleeding.
Inflammation is involved in heart attack, and it causes damage that allow tumors to grow. Aspirin is thought to help by fighting this inflammation.
Will the study findings lead more people to take a daily aspirin? The authors hope more people will discuss it with their doctors.
"Talk to your doctor, because you cannot extrapolate this finding to all patients. Some patients may have a unique risk benefit ratio that needs to be evaluated," says Dr. Itskowitz.