The Great Aspirin Debate: Why Age-Based Guidelines Are Being Questioned

(Photo by Shane Maritch on Shutterstock) In a nutshell * Current guidelines restricting aspirin based on age alone may be flawed; researchers argue decisions should be based on individual cardiovascular risk rather than arbitrary age cutoffs. * The ASPREE trial that led to age-based restrictions was terminated early and used unusual endpoints, making it an “uninformative” basis for sweeping guideline changes. * Patients with higher cardiovascular risk (above 10% over 10 years) may benefit from aspirin regardless of age, and should discuss individual risks and benefits with their healthcare provider. ************************************************************************************* BOCA RATON, Fla. — For decades, aspirin has been...