Yasuo Ikeda, M.D., of Waseda University,
Tokyo, Japan, and colleagues examined whether once-daily, low-dose aspirin
would reduce the total number of cardiovascular (CV) events (death from CV
causes, nonfatal heart attack or stroke) compared with no aspirin in Japanese
patients 60 years or older with hypertension, diabetes, or poor cholesterol or
triglyceride levels. The study appears in JAMA and is being released to
coincide with its presentation at the American Heart Association's Scientific
Sessions 2014.
The World Health Organization estimates that
annual global mortality due to cardiovascular diseases (including heart attack
and stroke) will approach 25 million by 2030. A recent study of trends in
cardiovascular disease in Japan indicated that there has been, from 1960 to
2000, a steep increase in the prevalence of glucose intolerance,
hypercholesterolemia, and obesity, probably due to the adoption of Western
diets and lifestyles. By 2030, it is estimated that 32 percent of the Japanese
population will be 65 years or older. Prevention of atherosclerotic
cardiovascular diseases is an important public health priority in Japan due to
an aging population, according to background information in the article.
This study included 14,464 patients (60 to
85 years of age) with hypertension, dyslipidemia (poor cholesterol or
triglyceride levels), or diabetes mellitus who were randomized to aspirin (100
mg/d) or no aspirin in addition to ongoing medications. The patients were
recruited by primary care physicians at 1,007 clinics in Japan. The study was
terminated early by the data monitoring committee after a median follow-up of
5.02 years based on likely futility.
The researchers found that there was no
statistically significant difference between the two groups in time to the
primary end point (a composite of death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal
stroke, and nonfatal heart attack). At 5 years after randomization, the
cumulative primary event rate was similar in participants in the aspirin group
(2.77 percent) and those in the no aspirin group (2.96 percent).
Aspirin significantly reduced incidence of
nonfatal heart attack and transient ischemic attack, and significantly
increased the risk of extracranial hemorrhage requiring transfusion or
hospitalization.
The authors write that despite inconsistent
evidence for the benefit of aspirin in primary prevention of cardiovascular
events, the benefits in secondary prevention are well documented, including in
Japanese patients. "There is also a growing body of evidence to suggest
benefits for aspirin in the prevention of colorectal and other cancers, and the
prevention of cancer recurrence, including in the Japanese population.
Reduction in the incidence of colorectal cancer may influence the overall
benefitrisk profile of aspirin. Further analyses of [this] study data are
planned, including analysis of deaths associated with cancers, to allow more
precise identification of the patients for whom aspirin treatment may be most
beneficial."
J. Michael Gaziano, M.D., M.P.H., of the
Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Brigham and Women's Hospital,
Harvard Medical School, Boston, and Associate Editor, JAMA, and Philip
Greenland, M.D., of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine,
Chicago, and Senior Editor, JAMA, write in an accompanying editorial
that the findings from this study adds to the body of evidence that helps
refine the answer to the question of when aspirin should be used to prevent
vascular events.
"Decision making involves an assessment
of individual risk-to-benefit that should be discussed between clinician and
patient. However, at present the choice of aspirin remains clear in several
situations. Aspirin is indicated for patients at high short-term risk due to an
acute vascular event and those undergoing certain vascular procedures; patients
with any evidence of vascular disease should be given daily aspirin. On the
other hand, patients at very low risk of vascular events should not take
aspirin for prevention of vascular events, even at low dose."
"However, some individuals who do not
have overt vascular disease will have risk levels that approach those of
patients with CVD (such as patients with multiple risk factors). It remains
likely that there is some level of risk of CVD events that would result in a
positive trade-off of benefit and risk for the use of aspirin, but the precise
level of risk is uncertain.
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