In a new study, researchers found that blood thinner drugs may effectively reduce heart attack and stroke risks in people with worsening heart failure, coronary artery disease or irregular heart rhythms.
The finding may help develop a new strategy to protect people’s heart health.
The research was led by scientists from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine.
Heart failure is a heart condition in which the heart muscle cannot effectively pump blood.
It can be caused by coronary artery disease or high blood pressure. These diseases can narrow arteries, gradually weaken or stiffen the heart, reduce its ability to fill and pump efficiently.
All of the conditions could increase one’s risk of heart attack and stroke.
In the study, the team aimed to find if a low dose of blood thinner could improve health in patients with worsening heart failure.
They examined 5,022 patients after discharge from a hospital or in treatment in an outpatient clinic for worsening heart failure.
All of the patients were given 2.5 milligrams of rivaroxaban, which is a blood thinner marketed as Xarelto.
The people took the drug orally twice daily or a placebo in addition to their standard therapy.
The researchers found that using blood thinners was linked to a 17% less risk of stroke, heart attack, and sudden cardiac death.
In addition, the bleeding risk with the low-dose rivaroxaban was not strongly increased.
They suggest that blood thinner could help cut the risk of conditions caused by thrombosis.
This finding may help develop a new method to improve heart health and prevent heart disease in people with heart failure.
Future work needs to confirm these findings in perspective, large clinical trials.
The lead author of the study is Barry Greenberg, MD, Distinguished Professor of Medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine.
The study is published in JAMA Cardiology.
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