USPSTF Releases New Aspirin Recommendations

Adults aged 50-59 years old with a 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk of 10% or greater should take daily low-dose aspirin from the prevention of CVD and colorectal cancer, according to a new draft recommendation from the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).

The new recommendations follow previous guidelines on aspirin as a preventative measure for CVD in 2009 and colorectal cancer in 2007, and are the first to address the combined benefit.
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For their analysis, the USPSTF used a calculator created by data from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association to predict 10-year risk of CVD, applying it to 11 randomized, controlled trials evaluating the use of aspirin for primary prevention of CVD.

They also examined data from several primary and secondary CVD prevention trials that reported on colorectal cancer risk reduction seen with aspirin use.

Based on the findings of their analysis, the USPSTF issued a grade B recommendation that adults aged 50-59 years old who are not at increased risk for bleeding take low-dose aspirin for the prevention of CVD and colorectal cancer.

They also issued a grade C recommendation that in patients between 60-69 years old, the decision of whether to use aspirin as a preventative measure for CVD and colorectal cancer should be based on the individual.

They also concluded that for adults younger than age 50 years and older than age 69 years, there is insufficient evidence for aspirin use.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

USPSTF. Aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer. 2015 September. http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/draft-recommendation-statement/aspirin-to-prevent-cardiovascular-disease-and-cancer.