In a new study from the University of Freiburg, researchers found aspirin use is linked to a 26% raised risk of heart failure in people with at least one predisposing factor for the condition.
This is the first study to report that among individuals with a least one risk factor for heart failure, those taking aspirins were more likely to subsequently develop the condition than those not using the medication.
The influence of aspirin on heart failure is controversial.
This study aimed to evaluate its relationship with heart failure incidence in people with and without heart disease and assess whether using the drug is related to a new heart failure diagnosis in those at risk.
In the study, the team analyzed 30,827 individuals at risk for developing heart failure.
“At risk” was defined as one or more of the following: smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Participants were aged 40 years and above and free of heart failure at baseline.
The average age of participants was 67 years and 34% were women. At baseline, a total of 7,698 participants (25%) were taking aspirin. During the 5.3-year follow-up, 1,330 participants developed heart failure.
The team found taking aspirin was independently associated with a 26% raised risk of a new heart failure diagnosis.
To check the consistency of the results, the researchers repeated the analysis after matching aspirin users and non-users for heart failure risk factors.
In this matched analysis, aspirin was associated with a 26% raised risk of a new heart failure diagnosis.
Further analyses showed that in 22,690 participants (74%) free of heart disease, aspirin use was associated with a 27% increased risk of incident heart failure.
The team says aspirin is commonly used—in the study one in four participants were taking the medication. In this population, aspirin use was linked to incident heart failure, independent of other risk factors.
The observations suggest that aspirin should be prescribed with caution in those with heart failure or with risk factors for the condition.
If you care about heart failure, please read studies about people with type 2 diabetes may show early signs of heart failure and findings of photo of eyes may predict longevity in people with heart failure.
For more information about aspirin, please see recent studies about aspirin may drive cancer growth in some older people and results showing that risks and benefits of low-dose aspirin you need to know.
The study is published in ESC Heart Failure. One author of the study is Dr. Blerim Mujaj.
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