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Dr Gareth P Morgan FRSPH, Honorary Research Fellow at Cardiff University argues that everyone who has reached their half century could consider taking aspirin
In 2005, a far-reaching debate was published about the potential use of aspirin prophylaxis for the primary prevention of vascular events on the basis of age grounds.1,2 Epidemiological evidence was presented which suggested that vascular event risk at approximately 50 years of age is sufficient for aspirin prophylaxis to be considered.1 Among the several arguments used to oppose this evidence was the uncertainty over the net benefit versus risk balance of aspirin prophylaxis for the primary prevention of vascular events.2
The underpinning rationale for considering aspirin prophylaxis on age grounds is robust, namely the risk of a vascular event increases with age. Further epidemiological evidence has been published3 which also adds support to the risk of vascular events at approximately 50 years of age being sufficient for aspirin prophylaxis to be considered for primary prevention. This evidence, however, does not address the benefit versus risk balance concern.
Primary and secondary prevention of vascular events are different situations. With secondary prevention of vascular events, aspirin is widely used in mainstream clinical practice unless specific contraindications exist. By contrast, with primary prevention of vascular events, the...