CHICAGO, March 27 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers said they found no significant difference between high- versus low-dose aspirin in the prevention of recurring cardiovascular events.
Lead author Payal Kohli, a cardiology fellow at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston said each year, more than 1 million Americans suffer a heart attack and nearly all are prescribed a daily aspirin and an anti-platelet medication during recovery. However, the optimal aspirin dose has been unclear.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 11,000 patients worldwide enrolled in the trial, which randomized acute coronary syndrome patients to receive either clopidigrel or prasugrel, two anti-platelet medications.
Some patients were prescribed high doses of aspirin following a heart attack, while others, received low doses. The aspirin dose was prescribed at the clinician investigator's discretion and the analysis included 7,106 patients who received low-dose aspirin, defined as 150 milligrams or less, and 4,610 patients who received high-dose aspirin, defined as 150 mg or more, Kohli said.
"We observed no difference between patients taking a high dose versus a low of aspirin as it relates to cardiovascular death, heart attack, stroke or stent thrombosis," Kohli said in a statement.
Prasugrel was more effective at preventing major adverse cardiovascular events than clopidogrel, regardless of whether patients received low- or high-dose aspirin, the study said.
The findings were presented at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions in Chicago.
