A comprehensive survey, which represents approximately 150 million adults annually, indicates that the use of aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be widespread among older adults, despite guidelines advised otherwise by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. According to the study’s authors, these results underscore the critical need for physicians to actively engage in discussions about the use of aspirin, thoroughly assessing both the potential benefits and risks with their older patients. This significant finding has been documented in a recent publication in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
The research, conducted by a team from the Cleveland Clinic, involved a detailed analysis of data harvested from the National Health Interview Survey Sample Adult component, spanning the years 2012 through 2019 and including data from 2021. The study aimed to elucidate trends in the prevalence of aspirin usage, specifically for preventing CVD. Participants in the study, aged 40 years and above, were required to report their aspirin consumption. Furthermore, they were categorized by age group and CVD status, which was determined based on their self-reported history of various conditions such as stroke, myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, or angina.
From the collected data, it was observed that the use of aspirin had seen a decline from 2018 to 2019. This decrease coincided with the release of new scientific evidence, leading to the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association revising their guidelines to advise against the routine use of aspirin therapy for primary prevention in older adults. Despite this decline, the usage of aspirin remained alarmingly high; nearly one-third of adults aged 60 or older who did not have CVD were still regularly taking aspirin in 2021. Additionally, close to one in every twenty older adults was using aspirin without any medical advice. Overall, the survey reported that in 2021, about 25.6 million adults in the U.S. were using aspirin, with 18.5 million adults aged 60 years or older.
These findings indicate that a substantial proportion of the older population continues to misuse aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The persistence of this practice, despite updated clinical guidelines, suggests that there is a pressing need for enhanced patient education and physician intervention to curtail the unwarranted use of aspirin among older adults. This highlights the importance of tailored healthcare guidance and the need for ongoing review and communication of medical guidelines to ensure they are being adhered to by the public.
More information: Mohak Gupta et al, Aspirin Use Prevalence for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Among U.S. Adults From 2012 to 2021, Annals of Internal Medicine. DOI: 10.7326/M24-0427
Journal information: Annals of Internal Medicine Provided by American College of Physicians
