MEDIA STATEMENT
31st August 2009

Results from the Edinburgh Asymptomatic Atherosclerosis (AAA) Study, Barcelona

There is an existing, strong body of evidence supporting the use of low-dose aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular (CVD) events in appropriate patients. Overall, some care should be taken in interpreting the findings of the AAAT. The study population was mostly women (~71%), and the study required an ankle brachial index (ABI) =0.95 as the only risk criterion for entry (in other words, no “standard” risk factors were required ). We know from previous publications of sub-studies of this trial that the ABI was 0.86, suggesting mild peripheral vascular disease. That, combined with the low event rate that was reported and commented on, the study population appeared to be a low-risk group.

Aspirin use to prevent primary cardiovascular events is only appropriate where individual patients are considered by their doctor to be at special risk from particular factors such as obesity, lifestyle, stress and a familial history.

The Edinburgh study suggests from a large cohort of patients that benefits in atheroschlerosis are not significant against controls

The Aspirin Foundation continues to counsel individuals always to seek medical advice before embarking on a self medication prophylactic regime with aspirin for whatever reason.

Medical advocates of prophylactic aspirin in the absence of previous cardiovascular events accept that potential benefits should be weighed against potential risks such as the bleeding demonstrated in the study by Professor Fowkes.