by: Renee Selle, PharmD Candidate, Purdue University
The new guidelines have arrived! The US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently updated their guidelines for low-dose aspirin. On April 26, 2022, USPSTF changed the guidelines for the primary preventative therapy of cardiovascular disease (CVD) with low-dose aspirin. Low-dose aspirin therapy is used for the prevention of CVD, which is responsible for 1 in 4 deaths and is the leading cause of death in the US today.
One big change to the guidelines is that, for adults 60+, aspirin therapy should not be started as their primary source of prevention for CVD. For adults 40-59 years with a 10% or larger 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk, the decision to start low-dose aspirin for the primary prevention of CVD should be made on an individual basis.
Why are the guidelines changing? New evidence shows only a small benefit from the use of aspirin. The USPSTF states that patients who are not at increased risk for bleeding and are willing to take the daily low-dose aspirin are more likely to benefit. For patients who have been taking aspirin for years and have not had a bleeding event, it is safe to continue aspirin therapy as normal. If a patient is around the age of 75, they suggest stopping aspirin therapy due to decreased benefits, and increased risk of bleeding.
For more information about the change in guidelines, visit the USPSTF website at www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org.