New research presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2023 suggests that heart attack patients who do not consistently take aspirin face significantly higher risks of having another heart attack, stroke, or dying compared to those who adhere to their aspirin regimen.
Dr. Anna Meta Kristensen, the study author from Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital in Denmark, underlined the urgency of adherence to aspirin for heart attack survivors.
The Importance of Aspirin
Aspirin is critical post-heart attack for its antiplatelet effects that prevent the formation of blood clots, thereby reducing the risk of a subsequent cardiovascular event.
However, its long-term effects have been less evident due to improvements in treatment and diagnostic methods.
The study examined data from Danish national health registries, focusing on patients aged 40 and over who had a first-time heart attack between 2004 and 2017 and were treated with a coronary stent.
Patients were tracked for adherence to aspirin at various intervals up to eight years post-heart attack.
Noteworthy Findings
Adherence to aspirin declined over time from 90% at two years post-heart attack to 81% at eight years.
Non-adherent patients faced a 29%, 40%, 31%, and 20% higher likelihood of another heart attack, stroke, or death at two, four, six, and eight years, respectively, compared to adherent patients.
Dr. Kristensen emphasized that while the study shows an association, it doesn’t establish causality. The study is also specific to patients treated with coronary stents and not on other anticoagulants.
Despite these limitations, the research supports current guidelines recommending long-term aspirin therapy after a heart attack, underlining the need for adherence to aspirin therapy for patients with a history of myocardial infarction.
Key Takeaways
The findings add weight to the increasing body of evidence on the importance of aspirin adherence in heart attack survivors.
Although aspirin’s long-term benefits have been less clear due to advancements in heart disease treatments, this study reiterates the significant risks of non-adherence, reinforcing the urgency of public health measures to improve medication adherence among this vulnerable patient population.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk, and herbal supplements could harm your heart rhythm.
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