This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Daily aspirin 'bleed' warning for over-75s
New research has highlighted the major risks associated with people over 75 taking daily aspirin after a stroke or heart attack.
More often than not, doctors tend to prescribe daily aspirin after a person has a stroke or heart attack to help prevent more attacks.
Whilst acknowledging the benefits of aspirin, the Lancet study suggests that those over 75 are at higher risk of major or fatal stomach bleeds than previously thought, and have advised that older people should also take stomach-protecting PPI pills to reduce risks.
Previous studies, which have acknowledged that aspirin can increase the risk of stomach bleeds, have focused upon a younger age range, finding that bleeds in those under 75 was low. However, statistics suggest that approximately half the people on lifelong aspirin in the UK are now over the age of 75.
The Lancet study examined 3,166 patients who had previously suffered a stroke or heart attack and were prescribed aspirin or similar blood-thinning drugs, finding that the annual rate of disabling or fatal bleeds rose threefold from one in 200 of those under 65 to three in every 200, supporting the claim that the risks of fatal or disabling bleeds continued to increase with age.
Professor Peter Rothwell, who led the research, said: "Our new study gives us a much clearer understanding of the size of the increased risk and the severity and consequences of bleeds in over-75s. Our findings raise questions about the balance of risk and benefit of long-term daily aspirin use in people aged 75 or over if a PPI drug is not co-prescribed."
Doctors have maintained that the benefits of daily aspirin far outweigh the risks, and have warned that to suddenly stop taking aspirin can be very harmful.
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