Some healthy older people take aspirin to
ward off strokes
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Healthy older people who take
regular aspirin to prevent stroke may actually be increasing
their risk.
In the past 25 years the number of strokes associated
with blood-thinning drugs such as aspirin or warfarin has
risen seven-fold, a UK study found.
The risk is particularly high in the over 75s and aspirin
may do more harm than good in healthy older people, The
Lancet Neurology paper reported.
However, people advised to take daily aspirin by their GP
should not stop.
Researchers at the University of Oxford compared figures
on intracerebral haemorrhagic stroke - a type of stroke
caused by bleeding in the brain - from 1981-85 and 2002-06.
They found that the number of strokes caused by high
blood pressure had fallen by 65%, which in the under 75s
meant the overall rate of strokes had halved.
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"What our study suggests is that,
particularly in the very elderly, the risks
of aspirin outweigh the benefits
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But in the over 75s the stroke rate remained the same
over the 25-year period.
A closer look at the data showed there had been an
increase in the number of strokes in patients taking blood
thinning drugs, known as antithrombotics.
In the first study the proportion of stroke patients on
antithrombotic drugs was 4% but two decades later this had
risen to 40%.
Lifestyle choice
People with cardiovascular disease, who have a high risk
of blood clot, are prescribed drugs like aspirin to thin the
blood and reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
But many healthy older people also take a regular aspirin
in an attempt to ward off a stroke.
Study leader, Professor Peter Rothwell, said the
increasing use of drugs such as aspirin may soon take over
high blood pressure as the leading cause of intracerebral
haemorrhagic stroke in the over 75s.
He warned than in healthy older adults the risks of
taking aspirin may outweigh any benefits.
"GPs have been treating high blood pressure very
aggressively and that is bringing dividends but there are
other causes of stroke in the elderly which have become
important.
"There are good reasons for taking aspirin or warfarin
but there are elderly who take aspirin as a lifestyle choice
and in that situation the trials have shown there's no
benefit.
"And what our study suggests is that, particularly in the
very elderly, the risks of aspirin outweigh the benefits,"
he said.
Dr Peter Coleman, deputy director of research and
development for The Stroke Association said aspirin had
gained a reputation of being part of a healthy lifestyle.
"However, this evidence indicates that if you are healthy
and have a low risk of heart disease or stroke and unless
advised by your GP to take aspirin on a daily basis then the
increased risks from the side effects of aspirin are likely
to outweigh the benefits of preventing a stroke."
He advised people to lower their risk of stroke by having
regular blood pressure checks, eating a healthy diet,
stopping smoking, only drinking alcohol in moderation,
reducing salt intake and taking regular exercise.
