New Recommendations For Prophylactic Aspirin Use In Diabetics
Posted May 28 2010 2:48am
Previously, low-dose daily aspirin use had been recommended to help prevent strokes and heart attacks in most diabetic individuals in the above-40 age group. However, recent studies, suggesting more modest benefits of aspirin prophylaxis, have led to changes in previous recommendations.
Three major medical groups have pushed upwards the recommended age at which diabetics should start taking low-dose aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke.
According to a joint statement by the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association and the American College of Cardiology, only male diabetics over 50 and female diabetics over 60 who are at risk for a heart attack or stroke should be taking aspirin as a preventive.
The experts defined "increased risk" as a 10 percent risk of experiencing a heart attack and/or stroke over the next 10 years.
It's now suggested that male diabetics in the 50+ age group and female diabetics in the 60+ age group consider daily low-dose aspirin if the have one additional risk factor from a list that includes smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol or a family history of premature heart disease.
Daily low-dose aspirin is define as 75 to 162 milligrams -- most take the 81 mg doses that are available. A standard aspirin tablet is 325 mg.
As always, decisions regarding aspirin should be individualized based on discussions with your physician.
The experts defined "increased risk" as a 10 percent risk of experiencing a heart attack and/or stroke over the next 10 years.
It's now suggested that male diabetics in the 50+ age group and female diabetics in the 60+ age group consider daily low-dose aspirin if the have one additional risk factor from a list that includes smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol or a family history of premature heart disease.
Daily low-dose aspirin is define as 75 to 162 milligrams -- most take the 81 mg doses that are available. A standard aspirin tablet is 325 mg.
As always, decisions regarding aspirin should be individualized based on discussions with your physician.