Daily aspirin increases risk in some older adults

Описание: (12 Oct 2021) Older adults without heart disease should not take daily aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke, an influential health guidelines group says in preliminary advice released Tuesday.
In draft guidance, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says bleeding risks for adults in their 60s and up outweigh any potential prevention benefits from aspirin.  
For the first time, the panel says adults in their 40s may want to consider the practice if they aren't already at risk for internal bleeding, because of a potential small benefit.
For those in their 50s, the panel softened advice and says evidence of any benefit is now less clear.  
The guidance is meant for people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity or other conditions that increase their chances for a heart attack or stroke.
"We're asking patients who are concerned about having a stroke or heart attack to have a conversation with their trusted clinician," says Dr. John Wong, a primary-care expert at Tufts Medical Center. "What's really important to know is that aspirin use can cause serious harms and that risk increases with age."
Aspirin is best known as a pain reliever, but it is also a blood thinner that can reduce chances for blood clots.
Recent studies have shown risks outweigh the clot-reducing benefits for older adults.
The main risk is bleeding in the digestive tract, an ulcer or lower GI bleeding, both of which can be life-threatening.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...