Benefits of cutting heart disease and cancer risk is clearer in older women, but use should be individualized, experts say
WebMD News from HealthDay
By Amy Norton
HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Dec. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Although low-dose aspirin may curb the risks of heart disease and colon cancer, the downsides appear to outweigh the benefits for many women, a new large study suggests.
For women younger than 65, researchers found taking low-dose aspirin for years lowered the risks of heart attack, stroke and colon cancer by a small amount.
But they also found that the benefit was countered by an increase in the risk of major gastrointestinal bleeding -- serious enough to land a woman in the hospital.
The picture looked better for women age 65 and up. Aspirin boosted their risk of bleeding, too -- but the benefits against heart disease and colon cancer were bigger, researchers reported.
The study appeared online on Dec. 4 in the journal Heart.
Many people have heard that low-dose aspirin is good for the heart, and may feel like it's a good idea to take some every day. But the reality is much more complicated, said Dr. John Erwin, a cardiologist at Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, Texas.
"There's no question that aspirin can be a lifesaver for people who've already had a heart attack," said Erwin, who was not involved in the new study.
For those people, he explained, a daily aspirin -- if recommended by a doctor -- can help prevent a repeat heart attack or other cardiovascular complications.
Things get murky, however, when it comes to preventing a first-time heart attack, or any other disease -- what doctors call "primary prevention." It's still unclear which people stand to gain a benefit that will outweigh the risks of aspirin -- namely, ulcers, stomach bleeding, or even bleeding in the brain.
"It's been a huge conundrum for us over the years," Erwin said. "When it comes to primary prevention, there are relatively few patients who will get a big benefit. And there's always the risk of harm."
The idea of using low-dose aspirin for primary prevention has gained some steam from research showing it may also cut the risk of colon cancer. But many medical experts still urge caution.
source : Study Casts Doubt on Low-Dose Aspirin for Women Under 65
