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Acetyl salicylic acid for healthy elderly people?Anton J.F.A. KerstNr 2 | 2019 (53) | Page 22-24 | New | doi: 10.35351/gebu.2019.2.5 | 27-02-2019

Tagsacetyl salicylic acid elderly cardiovascular diseases

Medicinal intervention can be an option to help people age in good health and prevent future diseases. This is why theuse of low-dose acetylsalicylic acid, which is known for its cardiovascular protective effect, has been studied amonghealthy elderly people without cardiovascular diseases. This research did not find any increase in life expectancy, nor didthe treatment postpone the onset of dementia or physical impairments hampering the activities of daily life. No futurecardiovascular benefit could be proven, whereas, as expected, the risk of haemorrhage was increased. Hence, there is noplace for the preventive use of acetylsalicylic acid by healthy elderly people, which is in line with the current Europeanand Dutch guidelines.

Ge-Bu IndicationAccording to the study discussed here, the preventive use of acetylsalicylic acid does notincrease the life expectancy of elderly people who have no cardiovascular disease. Nordoes its use delay the onset of physical problems hampering the activities of daily life ordementia.The risk of cardiovascular morbidity or mortality does not appear to be reduced by theuse of acetylsalicylic acid, although the study was not designed to prove this.The increased risk of cancer-related mortality found in this study contradicts previousresearch findings and may have been an artefact.European and Dutch guidelines rightly do not recommend the preventive use ofacetylsalicylic acid by healthy elderly people. The results of the study discussed hereconfirm this.The use of acetylsalicylic acid by healthy elderly people aged 70 and over should not berecommended, as it does not offer any benefits and carries the risk of adverse effects,especially that of serious haemorrhage.

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The literature refers to the Dutch text

AuthorsAnton J.F.A. Kerst

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