They advise against aspirin to prevent heart attacks in older people

A study led by the Jordi Gol Primary Care Research Institute (IDIAPJGol) has advised against starting treatment with aspirin to prevent cardiovascular diseases in people over 60 years of age with high cardiovascular riskreports the center in a statement.

Published in the magazine Journal of Clinical Medicine, The article confirms the usefulness of starting treatment with aspirin as primary prevention in people between 40 and 59 years oldalso with high risk, although it recommends carrying out a risk-benefit evaluation in each case.

The research has been based on real data from more than 37,000 patients with high cardiovascular risk treated in primary care centers in Catalonia between 2006 and 2020, who had not previously suffered cardiovascular episodes.

The results show that, while in younger patients (between 40 and 59 years old) starting preventive treatment with aspirin “significantly” reduces the risk of suffering from cardiovascular atherosclerotic disease, In those over 60 years of age, no protective benefit is observed.

“On the contrary, in this last group a increased risk of gastrointestinal ulcers and bleedingadverse effects that outweigh the possible preventive benefits of acetylsalicylic acid,” the researchers point out.

The first signatory of the study, Lia Alves, highlights that “real-world evidence is provided in line with international recommendations”; and the main researcher, Rafel Ramos, advocates for promote healthy habits to prevent cardiovascular diseases, before pharmacological treatment.