MEDIA RELEASE
17th October 2008


Aspirin for cardiovascular events in diabetic patients


An article and editorial in the BMJ(1) refers to the use of aspirin in the prevention of cardiovascular complications in diabetic patients.

Set against the significant body of evidence which recognises that diabetes doubles the cardiovascular risk of patients and the mass of international data on aspirin benefits, this study involving so few patients (1,276) is of limited significance. More robust studies with a more statistically viable size are already in progress eg ASCEND.

The Aspirin Foundation welcomes all useful research into the significant and wide- ranging benefits of aspirin developing year by year and will monitor any further studies with more statistical power than the one by Belch et al.

Ends

References:
(1) BMJ 2008;337:a1840