CDC: Aspirin Underused for Secondary Prevention of CVD

Despite data demonstrating the effectiveness of regular aspirin therapy for secondary prevention of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and coronary events, roughly 30% of patients with preexisting atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) do not take aspirin for this purpose, according to a report from the CDC.

In order to estimate the prevalence of aspirin use for secondary ASCVD prevention, researchers analyzed data from the 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System including 17,984 participants from 20 states and the District of Columbia.
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Overall, 70.8% of participants with preexisting ASCVD reported regular aspiring use (93.6% for the prevention of heart attack, 79.6% for the prevention of stroke, 76.2% for the prevention of both conditions). Aspirin use for secondary prevention varied by socioeconomic characteristics, with college-educated individuals, men, and people over 65 years old having the highest rates of use.

“Although provision of aspirin at discharge following a cardiovascular disease event is high, reports using community-based data sources find that aspirin use for secondary prevention is suboptimal,” they concluded.

“The use of this low-cost, effective, and generally safe intervention among persons who have existing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is supported by multiple evidence-based guidelines, and current data suggest that there is room for increased use in this population.”

—Michael Potts

Reference:

CDC. Use of Aspirin for Prevention of Recurrent Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Among Adults — 20 States and the District of Columbia, 2013. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 64(27);733-737.