USPSTF draft recommends daily aspirin to help prevent CVD, colorectal cancer in certain patients
The new recommendations found that current evidence is insufficient to assess the benefits and harms of aspirin use for prevention of these diseases in those younger than 50 years or older than 69 years.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) proposed an update to its current guidelines on the use of aspirin in patients to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) and colorectal cancer.
The draft recommendation uses new evidence to refine the criteria for which patients would benefit from aspirin use to prevent these diseases. The USPSTF published the proposed updates online on Sept. 14.
In the new draft, the Task Force recommends low-dose aspirin use for the primary prevention of both CVD and colorectal cancer in adults ages 50 to 59 years who have a 10% or greater 10-year CVD risk (estimated using the pooled cohort equations), are not at increased risk for bleeding, have a life expectancy of 10 years or more, and are willing to take low-dose aspirin daily for at least 10 years (B grade recommendation).
For adults ages 60 to 69 years with a greater than 10% 10-year CVD risk, the Task Force recommends low-dose aspirin use on an individualized, not routine, basis (C grade recommendation). Patients in this age range are more likely to benefit if they have no increased risk for bleeding, a life expectancy of 10 years or more, and willingness to take low-dose aspirin daily for at least 10 years, the Task Force noted.
Previously, the USPSTF had said that low-dose aspirin could help men ages 45 to 79 years and women ages 55 to 79 years prevent CVD when benefits outweigh potential harms, in a 2009 B-grade recommendation. And in 2007, it recommended against the routine use of aspirin and NSAIDs to prevent colorectal cancer in those at average risk for colorectal cancer (D grade recommendation).
The new recommendations found that current evidence is insufficient to assess the benefits and harms of aspirin use for prevention of these diseases in those younger than 50 years or older than 69 years. Previous recommendations recommended against the use of aspirin for stroke prevention in women younger than 55 years and for myocardial infarction prevention in men younger than 45 years and found insufficient evidence to assess benefits and harms in adults age 80 years and older.
The draft recommendation is open for public comment until 8 p.m. EST on Oct. 12.