A recent study published in Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging suggests that aspirin therapy, unlike statin use, does not reduce major cardiovascular events in patients with non-obstructive coronary artery disease.
The study uses data from the CONFIRM (Coronary CT Angiography Evaluation For Clinical Outcomes: An International Multicenter) registry.
Non-Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease and Treatment Options
Non-obstructive coronary artery disease is a condition characterized by less than 50% stenosis, or narrowing, of the coronary arteries due to plaque buildup.
Typically, medications called statins, which reduce the production of LDL cholesterol and stabilize plaque, are prescribed for patients diagnosed with this condition.
Aspirin is another commonly recommended drug, although its effectiveness at reducing major cardiovascular events in patients with non-obstructive coronary artery disease has been unclear.
Study Findings
Researchers selected 6,386 patients (average age 56.0 years, 52% men) from the CONFIRM registry who either had no detectable coronary plaque or non-obstructive coronary artery disease.
Patients with obstructive coronary artery disease, with 50% or greater stenosis, were excluded. The mean follow-up period was 5.7 years.
According to the study’s results, non-obstructive coronary artery disease was associated with a 10.6% risk of all-cause mortality compared to 4.8% in patients without plaque.
In patients with nonobstructive coronary artery disease, aspirin therapy was not associated with a reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events.
However, statin use showed a significant reduction in these events.
Despite these findings, aspirin therapy may still be beneficial in cases of high-risk plaque or high plaque burden, according to the study author, Dr. Jonathan Leipsic, professor and head of the Department of Radiology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.
Additional research is necessary to determine when and under what circumstances clinicians should consider prescribing aspirin for patients diagnosed with non-obstructive coronary artery disease.
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The study was published in Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging.
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