Aspirin reduces stroke risk, study shows

Specifically, the study used Bayer Aspirin and showed a 17% reduction in the risk of a first stroke, and a 24% reduction in the risk of an ischemic stroke. This finding is particularly important to women, as each year about 40,000 more women than men suffer a stroke.

The Women’s Health Study (WHS) found that aspirin offered the greatest benefit in women 65 and older, reducing all major cardiovascular events including heart attack (MI) and ischemic stroke. However, in the total population, which comprised a significant number of younger women (ages 45-55), low-dose aspirin did not demonstrate a significant benefit in preventing first heart attack or cardiovascular death.

Aspirin is currently approved by the FDA for reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke and death in both women and men who have experienced a previous heart attack or stroke, as well as reducing the risk of mortality in patients with a suspected acute MI.

“The Women’s Heath Study is the first large trial to demonstrate a significant benefit of aspirin in the primary prevention of stroke, reinforcing what we know of its efficacy from secondary prevention trials,” said Dr Julie Buring, principal investigator of the WHS.

“Although not widely recognized, women tend to suffer more strokes than heart attacks as compared to men, and thus these prevention data for low-dose aspirin have important public health implications,” she added.

Additionally, the WHS further supports aspirin’s favorable benefit/risk profile. In fact, while there was a small increase in risk of overall gastrointestinal (GI) bleeds associated with aspirin use, there were no significant differences between aspirin and placebo in risk of stomach upset, fatal GI bleeds or hemorrhagic stroke.