Aspirin And Stroke Prevention In Women

Recent studies examined the role of Aspirin for various conditions in women, mainly cardiovascular illnesses such as hypertension, ischemic heart disease and stroke. This medication is well-known worldwide, and has been available for years. Numerous clinical trials have based its efficiency in men and women for the prevention of vascular conditions, including acute myocardial infarction ("heart attack"), ischemic stroke, and peripheral arterial disease.

Despite the known evidence that low-dose Aspirin reduces morbidity and mortality in patients with cardiovascular diseases, and although published guidelines recommend its use, patients, especially women, are not yet treated regularly for this indication. The Women's Health Initiative Observational Study (WHIOS), which examined approximately 9,000 postmenopausal women with cardiovascular diseases, found that only 46% were taking Aspirin. This study lasted for a seven year follow-up period, and again demonstrated that Aspirin was associated with lower all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular-related mortality in women.

According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular diseases were the cause of death in approximately 400,000 American women in 2006, which was nearly twice as high as death of women from all forms of cancer that year. An interesting fact is that cardiovascular diseases in women have exceeded those in men in the U.S. This high incidence of cardiovascular deaths among women has resulted in significant interest in possible interventions and treatments, specifically in women.

In another study, women taking Aspirin experienced an overall 17% decrease in the risk of ischemic stroke. Ischemic stroke is caused by a blood clot and lack of sufficient blood-flow to certain areas of the brain, causing temporary or permanent neurological damage. Stroke reduction was compared and noticed across all age groups.

Currently there are few cost analyses in women, and they are usually restricted. These cost analyses have shown that Aspirin is cost-effective in older women older than 65. One analysis, which predicted the number of cardiovascular events prevented with treatment (including ischemic stroke), adjusted life-years and cost over a ten-year period. Aspirin was then found to be cost-effective as primary prevention in women over 65 years with a considerable "high cardiovascular risk", and in women over 75 years with a considerable "moderate cardiovascular risk".

Based on these findings, including results from other trials in women, there are currently specific guidelines recommending the use of Aspirin, mainly for prevention of stroke in high-risk women. The U.S Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concluded that the potential benefit of a reduction in ischemic strokes outweighs the potential harm of an increase in gastrointestinal bleeding by using Aspirin.