Aspirin Use for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Colorectal Cancer:USPSTF 2016

Cardiovascular disease is the one the major causes of death among in the indian population. Use of aspirin is known to play an important role in reducing the risk of CVD as well as CRC .

Recently, Use of Aspirin has been once again guidelined, to be used as a primary prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Colorectal Cancer. For quite some time, there has been ongoing debate regarding the utility of this important in a younger age group. While this issue is still resolved in the guidelines, the general usage and utility of this drug in other groups has been reconfirmed with clarifications.

On April 12th, 2016, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has issued the Recommendation Statement on Aspirin Use for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Colorectal Cancer:

The major recommendations of the guidelines are as follows:-

• The decision to initiate low-dose aspirin use for the primary prevention of CVD and CRC in adults aged 60 to 69 years who have a 10% or greater 10-year CVD risk should be an individual one. Persons who are not at increased risk for bleeding, have a life expectancy of at least 10 years, and are willing to take low-dose aspirin daily for at least 10 years are more likely to benefit. Persons who place a higher value on the potential benefits than the potential harms may choose to initiate low-dose aspirin. (C recommendation)

• The current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of initiating aspirin use for the primary prevention of CVD and CRC in adults younger than 50 years. (I statement)


• The current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of initiating aspirin use for the primary prevention of CVD and CRC in adults aged 70 years or older. (I statement)

You can read the full recommendations by clicking on the link below:-

http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2513179