LOW DOSE OF ASPIRING BENEFIT LESS THAN AND HARM IN OLD

LOW DOSE OF ASPIRING  BENEFIT LESS THAN AND HARM  IN OLD  

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Low-dose aspirin use for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and colorectal cancer in adults ages 50 to 59 years who have a 10% or greater 10-year CVD risk, are not at increased risk for bleeding, have a life expectancy of at least 10 years, and are willing to take low-dose aspirin daily for at least 10 years.Its any benefit in both diseases is not confirmed in persons less than 50 yrs of age.

                     The decision to use low-dose aspirin to prevent CVD and colorectal cancer in adults ages 60 to 69 years who have a greater than 10% 10-year CVD risk should be an individual one. Persons who are not at increased risk for bleeding, have a life expectancy of at least 10 years, and are willing to take low-dose aspirin daily for at least 10 years are more likely to benefit. Persons who place a higher value on the potential benefits than the potential harms may choose to use low-dose aspirin.

               But the aspirin even in low dose of 75 mg is very harmful for eldery patients above 75yrs of age as revealed in a new study published in The lancet.The researchers followed about 3,166 patients who had previously had a stroke or heart attack and were prescribed antiplatelet drugs (mostly aspirin).Over the 10-year period, 314 patients were admitted to hospital for bleeding.

          Researchers found that for patients under 65 taking daily aspirin, the annual rate of bleeds requiring hospital admission was about 1.5 percent, compared with 3.5 per cent for patients aged 75 to 84, and 5 percent for those aged 85 or over.The annual rate of life-threatening or fatal bleeds was less than 0.5 percent, for patients under 65, 1.5 percent for those aged 75 to 84 and almost 2.5 percent for patients aged 85 or over, 'The Guardian' reported.

   "In the over-75s the risk of a serious bleed is higher - but the key point is that this risk is substantially preventable by taking proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) alongside aspirin," said Peter Rothwell, professor at Oxford University in the UK."Since many of the deaths are preventable by taking PPIs, people over 75 should be prescribed a PPI along with their aspirin. Regardless of age, nobody should suddenly stop taking aspirin without speaking to their doctor," Rothwell said.