Aspirin fails to prevent heart attacks
Taking aspirin does not prevent heart attacks in people with diabetes
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Friday, 17, Oct 2008 08:33
Taking aspirin does not prevent heart attacks in people with diabetes, new research shows.
In the report published in BMJ Online, the authors call for the prescribing practice of doctors and international guidelines to be reviewed so that aspirin is only prescribed to patients with established heart and stroke disease.
Patients with diabetes are two to five times more likely to suffer from
heart disease, a major cause of death in patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes.
Despite the fact that there is considerable evidence showing no benefit of taking aspirin for high risk patients, it is commonly prescribed for the prevention of heart disease in patients suffering with peripheral arterial disease and diabetes.
The researchers found there was no actual benefit from either aspirin or antioxidant treatment in the prevention of heart attacks or death.
The authors also point to the side-effects of aspirin, with the Commission on Human Medicines placing it in the top ten causes of adverse drug events. It can also causes gastrointestinal bleeding and the risk of bleeding increases with age and prolonged use.