new findings aspirin for people who have had strokes

The surveys included responses from more than 124,500 adults ages 40 to 69 who reported their history of cardiovascular disease and aspirin use. Seven of the surveys were conducted in low-income countries, 23 in lower-middle-income countries, 14 in upper-middle-income countries and seven in high-income countries. 'Given that it continues to be the number one cause of mortality, it's very important that health systems and countries strategize ways to improve uptake of aspirin use as well as other cardiovascular medicines.'įor the new study, Yoo and his colleagues from Washington University, the University of Michigan and other institutions around the world analyzed data from 51 countries where surveys were conducted between 20. 'What our study is highlighting is that despite efforts being put in to improve cardiovascular health globally, aspirin continues to be underused in secondary preventions,' Yoo said. Because aspirin helps thin the blood, that can help reduce the risk of blockages in the arteries that may cause a heart attack or stroke. It's estimated that more than 4 in 5 cardiovascular disease deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes. The World Health Organization has a target for at least 50% of those eligible people to receive some type of drug therapy and counseling to prevent heart attacks and strokes.Ĭardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, claiming about 18 million lives each year, according to WHO. Unlike with primary prevention, where the risk-benefit ratio of aspirin is not as clear, available research on secondary prevention shows that the benefits of taking aspirin far outweigh the risks for people who have had a heart attack or stroke. It's different from primary prevention - using aspirin to reduce the risk of a first heart attack or stroke. Secondary prevention refers to using aspirin to reduce the risk of a second or additional heart attack or stroke. Sang Gune Yoo, an author of the study and a cardiovascular disease fellow in the cardiovascular division at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Particularly I think, overall, globally, there has been an emphasis on improving cardiovascular health, and one of the efforts is to improve use of some of these evidence-based medications,' said Dr. 'We had hoped that the rates of aspirin use for secondary prevention would be much higher. The proportion of patients using aspirin to reduce the risk of a secondary event varied by country, however, ranging from 16.6% in low-income countries such as Afghanistan, Benin and Ethiopia to 65% in high-income countries such as Czechia, the UK and the US, according to the study, published Tuesday in the medical journal JAMA. But a new study suggests that less than half of these cardiovascular disease patients around the world are using aspirin to prevent a new event.Īmong people with a history of cardiovascular disease who were surveyed in the new study, only about 40% reported taking aspirin to prevent another heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular event. (CNN) - For adults who have survived a heart attack or stroke, taking aspirin regularly may reduce the risk of another cardiovascular event. CBS News Detroit Digital Brief for Aug05:16

New findings aspirin for people who have had strokes