Aspirin no longer recommended for most adults

NEW ORLEANS — Aspirin is no longer recommended for primary prevention of CVD in most adults aged 70 and older, according to new American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology guidelines announced at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Session. The recommendation also applies to those with no known history of CVD, according to an accompanying press release.

“Clinicians should be very selective in prescribing aspirin for people without known cardiovascular disease,” Roger S. Blumenthal, MD, professor of cardiology at Johns Hopkins Medicine and an author of the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology guidelines, said in a press release.

Aspirin is no longer recommended for primary prevention of CVD in most adults aged 70 and older, according to new American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology guidelines.

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“It’s much more important to optimize lifestyle habits and control blood pressure and cholesterol as opposed to recommending aspirin. Aspirin should be limited to people at the highest risk of cardiovascular disease and a very low risk of bleeding,” Blumenthal added.

For more details on this recommendation and other ways to prevent CVD that were announced at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Session, please click here. - by Janel Miller

Reference:

Arnett DK, et al. “All you needed to know about cardiovascular disease prevention guidelines; Well — almost all. Presented at: American College of Cardiology Scientific Session; March 16-18, 2019; New Orleans.

Disclosures: Healio Primary Care Today was unable to determine Blumenthal's relevant financial disclosures prior to publication.