Many older adults in the U.S. are still taking a daily low-dose aspirin to prevent their first heart attack or stroke—even though new medical advice suggests this may not be a good idea.
A recent study by scientists from Johns Hopkins University found that nearly half to two-thirds of Americans aged 70 and older continue to use aspirin for heart health, even when they have no history of heart disease.
Researchers looked at data from more than 7,100 adults aged 60 and older who took part in a large national health survey. They found that people in their 70s were especially likely to take aspirin regularly.
Among those with diabetes—a condition that increases the risk of heart problems—nearly 62% were taking aspirin. But even among those without diabetes, nearly half (48.5%) were also taking it.
Surprisingly, many of these people had no previous history of heart disease. Based on the data, the researchers estimated that nearly 10 million older Americans are using aspirin for prevention, even though they’ve never had a heart attack, stroke, or serious heart issue.
This is important because medical guidelines have changed in recent years. Doctors now advise against routine aspirin use in adults aged 70 and older who have never had heart problems.
That’s because aspirin isn’t as harmless as many people think. While it can help prevent blood clots, it also thins the blood. This raises the risk of serious bleeding, especially in the stomach or brain. As people get older, their risk of bleeding increases—making aspirin potentially more harmful than helpful for some.
In the past, health experts strongly recommended daily aspirin for people at high risk of developing heart disease. This included people who smoked, had high blood pressure, or had diabetes. But newer studies have shown that the benefits of aspirin in these cases are smaller than once believed—and the risks may outweigh the benefits, especially in older adults.
Now, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association suggest a more careful approach. For people aged 40 to 70 who are at high risk for heart disease and not at high risk of bleeding, aspirin might still be helpful.
But for those aged 70 and older, doctors recommend against using aspirin as a regular way to prevent heart attacks or strokes if the person has never had heart problems before.
However, for people who have already had a heart attack or stroke, or who have known heart disease, aspirin can still be an important and effective part of treatment. In these cases, the benefits are clear and usually outweigh the risks.
Researchers believe that many older adults still taking aspirin started doing so many years ago, back when it was widely recommended. The study authors say it’s time for those patients to talk to their doctors about whether they still need to be taking aspirin every day.
Other medications, like statins—which lower levels of “bad” cholesterol—have stronger evidence of helping to prevent heart problems before they happen. Doctors now often suggest statins instead of aspirin for people with risk factors who have never had a heart attack or stroke.
This study, led by Dr. Rita Kalyani and her team, was published in JAMA Network Open. It’s a reminder that medical advice changes over time, and it’s always a good idea to check in with your doctor about the medicines you take—especially as you get older.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that vitamin K helps cut heart disease risk by a third, and a year of exercise reversed worrisome heart failure.
For more health information, please see recent studies about supplements that could help prevent heart disease, stroke, and results showing this food ingredient may strongly increase heart disease death risk.
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