In a large scale Australian study, researchers have found that Aspirin can save lives and drastically reduce rates of stroke and heart attack. Meg Jardine from the George Institute for Global Health explained that there has been unclear evidence of these effects of aspirin, which is essentially a pain killer, and debate whether it should be used more broadly to combat cardiovascular disease. She said, “Until now there's been no clear evidence that aspirin therapy benefits people at high risk of heart disease and stroke, including those with chronic kidney disease.”
For the study her team analysed data from an international study of over 18,000 people with high blood pressure aged between 50 and 80 - about 20 percent of who had mild to moderate Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Results showed that daily aspirin use over a four-year window could prevent 54 deaths, 40 strokes and 40 non-fatal heart attacks for every 1,000 people with kidney disease. In patients who have already had a stroke or a heart attack, a daily dose of Aspirin can prevent a recurrence say authors.
Speaking of the common side effects with the use of Aspirin like internal bleeding due to its blood thinning properties she said, “We found the cost for preventing deaths and reducing the incidence of heart attacks and strokes was that there would be an additional 27 major and 12 minor bleeds in every 1,000 people with CKD taking aspirin.”
Dr Jardine will present her research at the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology annual scientific meeting in Perth, today. The study was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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