Taking regular Acetylsalicylic acid ( Aspirin ) and antioxidant supplements does not prevent myocardial infarctions even in high risk groups with diabetes and asymptomatic arterial disease, and Acetylsalicylic acid should only be given to patients with established heart disease, stroke or limb arterial disease.

In light of these findings, and the evidence from six other well controlled trials, the prescribing practice of doctors and international guidelines should be reviewed so that Acetylsalicylic acid is only prescribed to patients with established heart and stroke disease.

Patients with diabetes are two to five times more likely to suffer from heart disease than the general population and heart disease is a major cause of death in patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes. Although there is considerable evidence showing no protective benefit of Acetylsalicylic acid in high risk patients without heart disease, guidelines are inconsistent and Aspirin is commonly prescribed for the primary prevention of heart disease in patients with diabetes and with peripheral arterial disease.

But Acetylsalicylic acid is one of the top 10 causes of adverse drug events reported to the Commission on Human Medicines. It causes gastrointestinal bleeding and the risk of bleeding increases with age and prolonged use.

Jill Belch and colleagues from Scotland investigated whether Acetylsalicylic acid and antioxidants given together or separately can reduce myocardial infarctions and death in patients with diabetes and arterial disease. 1276 patients with diabetes and evidence of artery disease over 40 years of age were randomised to receive either Acetylsalicylic acid or placebo, an antioxidant or placebo, Acetylsalicylic acid and antioxidant or double placebo, and followed over eight years.

Overall, the researchers found no benefit from either Acetylsalicylic acid or antioxidant treatment in the prevention of myocardial infarctions or death. Patients in the Aspirin groups had 116 primary events compared with 117 in the placebo group. No significant difference in events was seen between the antioxidant group and the placebo group.

The authors conclude by voicing their concern at the widespread prescribing of Acetylsalicylic acid despite the lack of evidence to support its use in the primary prevention of heart attacks and death in people with diabetes and in view of its possible side effects.

These findings show that unlike statins and drugs for reducing hypertension, which have a benefit in all risk groups including those with and without heart disease, only patients with a history of clinical or symptomatic heart disease or stroke disease benefit from taking Acetylsalicylic acid, writes William Hiatt in an accompanying editorial.

Source: British Medical Journal, 2008

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