Experts discuss FDA advisory against aspirin for primary prevention of MI, stroke

[EngMac]

The discussion continues and as expected the definitive answers are still in limbo.

healio.com/cardiology/vascu...

[AnticoagulateNow]

What hope for imminent progress is there in this area with the contribution from the Chief Medical Editor of Cardiology Today who says,

"Reducing the risk of MIs and/or strokes in this rapidly growing segment of our population [over 65s] is clearly important and most bleeding events in this cohort are neither fatal nor disabling."

He was balancing risk of stroke with risk of bleed. But was he saying this to promote anticoagulant use? No, he was advocating the use of aspirin. To be fair he wasn't specifically referring to AF but the generalisation must sow more confusing seeds in the minds of the readers of 'Cardiology Today'.




[CDreamer]

I thought the most sensible report discussed the usefulness of asprin as a treatment AFTER an MI or stroke, & for the following 4weeks but anticoagulation was an important prevention strategy. (Sorry can't remember which one as have been a few recently)

Maybe the discussion should be more about when and when not to use rather than which?

[mumknowsbest Volunteer]

EngMac, you must spend many hours on the computer searching for these articles. My only knowledge of aspirin comes from nursery bits and what I have learnt since I had AF. Aspirin is not much use in preventing strokes if you have AF, but for other cardiac conditions it is still useful.

Regards

Eileen