Primary prevention with low dose aspirin cuts cardiovascular deaths

Low dose aspirin significantly reduces the risk of cardiovascular events and deaths in people with at least one risk factor but no history of cardiovascular disease, according to a major primary prevention study published last week.

The study of 4495 people recruited in general practices throughout Italy showed that low dose aspirin (100 mg a day) reduced the risk of cardiovascular death by 44% at 3.6 years of follow up (Lancet 2001;357:89-95).

The proportion of participants dying from cardiovascular causes was 1.4% in those not receiving aspirin and 0.8% in those taking aspirin. The corresponding …