Generalisations on benefits of aspirin are dangerous

EDITOR—The publication of the pulmonary embolism prevention (PEP) trial has created considerable interest in the medical and lay press about the optimal thromboprophylactic strategy to minimise the substantial morbidity and mortality experienced by patients with hip fractures.1 Minerva's interpretation of the trial is misleading,2 and we wish to counter each of her four claims.

Firstly, the claim that the trial showed clearly that aspirin prevents deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism and saves lives is misleading. Although the primary efficacy end …