Aspirin May Not Prevent Heart Attacks in High Risk Patients Without Pre-existing Heart Disease

People with diabetes have an increased risk of heart disease. How much of an increase? About five times higher than people who don't have diabetes. Aspirin is usually prescribed to prevent heart complications in people with a higher cardiac risk. Does it help? A study from Scotland's University of Dundee, says that it doesn't seem to prevent cardiac complications in people who don't have symptomatic peripheral artery disease, or a pre-existing history of heart disease or strokes.

According to a press release from the University, 1276 patients with diabetes and evidence of artery disease over 40 years of age were randomised to receive either aspirin or placebo, an antioxidant or placebo, aspirin and antioxidant or double placebo, and followed over eight years. Overall, the researchers found no benefit from either aspirin or antioxidant treatment in the prevention of heart attacks or death.

So, according to the research, even if diabetes places you at risk for cardiac and vascular complications, aspirin will not prevent you from developing these complications. Although, aspirin is effective for people who already have symptomatic peripheral arterial disease, either in conjunction with diabetes or not.

The study appears in the most recent issue of the British Medical Journal.

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