Aspirin resistance increases heart attack, stroke risk

Being resistant to aspirin makes patients four times more likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke or even die from a pre-existing heart condition, according to a study published in British Medical Journal, UK. The study relates to patients who are prescribed aspirin long term as a way of preventing clots from forming in the blood.

Patients who are labelled "aspirin resistant" have blood cells (platelets) that are not affected in the same way as those of patients who are responsive to the drug, ie people who are "aspirin sensitive."

There is currently no agreed method of accurately determining who is and isn't aspirin resistant and the reasons why someone might be aspirin resistant are currently a cause of controversy.

Aspirin has clear benefits in cardiovascular disease. It reduces total mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and cardiovascular morbidity in people with cardiovascular disease or those at high risk of the disease; it is also cheap, relatively safe, and easy to use. So why does aspirin fail to work in some people who take it as prescribed?

Relatively few studies have looked at whether aspirin resistance has any impact on clinical outcome so the Canadian authors carried out a review of all the available data to better understand the relationship between the two.

They identified 20 studies, involving 2,930 patients with cardiovascular disease, all of whom had been prescribed aspirin as a way of preventing clots from forming in the blood. 28% were classified as aspirin resistant.

They found that all aspirin resistant patients, regardless of their underlying clinical condition, were at greater risk of suffering a heart attack, stroke or even dying. In particular they found that 39% of aspirin resistant patients compared to 16% of aspirin sensitive patients suffered some sort of cardiovascular event.

They also found that taking other drugs to thin the blood, such as Clopidogrel or Tirofiban, did not provide any benefit to these patients.

The authors conclude that there needs to be further studies on aspirin resistance to identify the most useful test to determine the condition. They also say aspirin resistance: "is a biological entity that should be considered when recommending aspirin as antiplatelet therapy."


(Editor compiled and published Aspirin resistance increases heart attack, stroke risk at HealthNewsTrack on January 20, 2008 sourced from British Medical Journal - http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/bmj.39430.529549.BEv1)

Heart Attack - recent articles and current news stories:

- Circadian rhythms linked to sudden cardiac attack
- Most major air pollutants increases heart attack risk
- Anticoagulant Dabigatran linked to heart attack or MI
- Bariatric surgery reduces heart attack and stroke in obese
- Stent design may put patients at risk of heart attack

Most related articles:

- Aspirin resistance increases heart attack, stroke risk
- Statin and BP drug combo ALL prevents heart attack and stroke - 9.2
- Recurrent miscarriage raises heart attack risk - 7.7
- Secondary stroke prevention needs improvement - 7.6
- Plavix reduced major vascular events by 11% in heart disease - 7.2

More related articles:

- Aspirin, Heart attack, Stroke, Cardiovascular disease, Antiplatelet therapy
- Statin and BP drug combo ALL prevents heart attack and stroke - 9.3
- Routine use of aspirin not supported - 9.2
- Healthy lifestyle choices lower risk of a first stroke 80% - 8.2
- Plavix reduced major vascular events by 11% in heart disease - 8.2

Heart Attack related articles:

- Heart attacks are more serious if they occur at certain times of the day - 5
- Smoking ban would reduce heart attack admissions in hospitals - 5
- Recurrent miscarriage raises heart attack risk - 4.9
- Chest pain - common sign of heart attack for women - 4.7
- Women with gout at greater risk of heart attack - 4.4

Heart Attack article/news source:

Read more health articles from British Medical Journal and health articles from UK.

Heart Attack - search related terms:

Antiplatelet therapy, Aspirin, Cardiovascular disease, Heart attack, Stroke,
Heart Attack books,

Searched keywords: aspirin resistance (7), aspirin (6),

List health news, Health organizations, Health news world, Glossary, Best health articles, Featured     Go to top

The information provided on Health Newstrack is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her physician. We comply with the HONcode principles for trustworthy health information, and Health News Track is hon code accredited, verify here.
About us, Site map Privacy policy, Disclaimer
© 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 HealthNewsTrack.com
0.83