(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Low-dose aspirin has been recommended as a primary
prevention strategy for patients with an increased cardiovascular risk, but new
research shows it may not significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular events
in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Researchers at Kumamoto University in Japan examined whether low-dose aspirin is
beneficial for primary prevention of atherosclerotic (narrowing or hardening of
the arteries due to plaque build-up) events in patients with type 2 diabetes.
They studied patients with type 2 diabetes and no history of atherosclerotic
disease from 163 institutions throughout Japan. Participants were randomly
assigned to receive daily low-dose aspirin or no aspirin. In patients younger
than 65 the difference in outcomes between the two groups was not significant.
“Myocardial infarction [heart attack] and ischemic stroke are leading causes of
mortality and morbidity in patients with type 2 diabetes. Given the rapid
increase in the number of patients with type 2 diabetes worldwide and especially
in Asia, establishing effective means of primary prevention of coronary and
cerebrovascular events is an important public health priority,” study authors
were quotes as saying.
Although the study did not find low-dose aspirin to significantly reduce the
risk of atherosclerotic events in primary prevention therapy in patients with
type 2 diabetes, the authors suggest more research is needed.
SOURCE: The Journal of the American Medical Association, published online Nov.
9, 2008
