Major U.S. Health Groups Cite Aspirin Use Among Other Life-Saving Interventions

Main Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 12 Jul 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Greater, appropriate utilization of aspirin and other preventive measures, such as quitting smoking, losing weight and lowering cholesterol, would reduce heart attacks by 36 percent over the next three decades, according to a report issued by three major U.S. health organizations.

The report, a joint project of the American Cancer Society (ACS), the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the American Heart Association (AHA), is based on a mathematical model incorporating data from the fourth National Health and Nutrition Education Survey (NHANES IV) to determine the effects of preventive measures on the entire U.S. population over a 30-year period. The results are published in the current issues of Circulation and Diabetes Care.

"The latest report adds to an extensive body of evidence demonstrating that aspirin saves lives," commented Dr. Nieca Goldberg, associate professor of medicine and medical director of New York University's Women's Heart Program and author of Dr. Nieca Goldberg's Complete Guide to Women's Health. "The study results underscore that regular aspirin use among appropriate patients - even at less than 100 percent adherence - can greatly reduce the incidence of heart attacks in at-risk individuals."

Heart disease is the leading cause of death and disability in the U.S., affecting men, women and all ethnic groups. In fact, nearly 71 million people are at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and, according to the AHA, every 26 seconds an American will suffer a coronary event.

The ACS/ADA/AHA report estimates that more than three-quarters (78 percent) of U.S. adults aged 20-80 years are candidates for at least one prevention activity (aspirin use, controlling pre-diabetes, losing weight, lowering blood pressure in people with diabetes, lowering LDL cholesterol in people with existing coronary artery disease). If all such individuals partook of the activities for which they are eligible, heart attacks would be reduced by 63 percent. If more feasible levels of adherence are assumed, based on clinical trial data, there would still be reductions of 36 percent for heart attack.1,2

The report follows on the heels of new health policies released by the American Medical Association (AMA) , which include a resolution to increase physician education about the importance of counseling patients on the appropriate use of aspirin to prevent heart disease and stroke. Aspirin's potential to reduce the burden of CVD is also underscored in a Partnership For Prevention (PFP) report, which ranked 25 evidence-based clinical preventive services recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices based on these services' health impact and economic value; aspirin counseling was rated the number-one preventive health service that, if optimized, would dramatically contribute to improved public health. The PFP report also states that 45,000 lives would be saved each year if more adults took a regular low-dose aspirin to prevent heart disease.

Aspirin is one of the most extensively studied drugs in history, with a 110-year track record of efficacy and safety. More than 200,000 patients have been studied in more than 200 randomized clinical trials evaluating aspirin efficacy and safety across a range of doses. When taken regularly, aspirin has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of heart attack and recurrent stroke. However, despite its well-established benefits, including support from guidelines recommendations by the AHA, USPSTF, ADA, World Health Organization and other health organizations, aspirin is widely underutilized in the United States and the world over. Reports show aspirin is used by only about half of those who should be using it to prevent CV events.

"With its emphasis on the feasibility of regular aspirin use and other prevention efforts, the ACS/ADA/AHA report is an im¬portant step in addressing aspirin utilization and ultimately improving public health," said Wes Cetnarowski, MD, Senior Vice President of Global Research and Development at Bayer Healthcare. "We hope this report - and other related recent reports - encourages discussions of low-dose aspirin between physicians and patients, and contributes to reducing the prevalence of heart disease worldwide."

Bayer is committed to improving public health by promoting the safe and appropriate use of aspirin for CV event prevention. In addition to supporting numerous scientific studies in cardiovascular disease, Bayer has meaningful partnerships with many organizations, including AHA, PFP, WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, and the National Stroke Association, to help raise awareness of the risks of CVD and ways to help control risk factors, including increasing the appropriate use of aspirin therapy.

About Bayer Consumer Care

The Consumer Care Division of Bayer HealthCare LLC, is headquartered in Morristown, N.J. Bayer's Consumer Care Division is among the largest marketers of over-the-counter medications and nutritional supplements in the world. Some of the most trusted and recognizable brands in the world today come from the Bayer portfolio of products. These include Bayer® Aspirin, ALEVE®, Flanax®/Apronax®, Alka-Seltzer Plus®, Bactine®, RID®, Phillips'® Milk of Magnesia, Midol®, Alka-Seltzer®, Talcid®, Rennie®, Canesten®, Bepanthen®, Bepanthol®, One A Day® vitamins, FlintstonesTM vitamins, Supradyn®, Redoxon®, Berocca®, Cal-D-Vita/Elevit®, Vital 50 Plus®, CardioAspirin®.

The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer HealthCare, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, is one of the world's leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care and Pharmaceuticals divisions. The pharmaceuticals business operates under the name Bayer Schering Pharma AG. Bayer HealthCare's aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. Find more information at www.bayerhealthcare.com.

1 Kahn R, Robertson RM, Smith R, Eddy D. The impact of prevention on reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease. Circulation 2008. Published online before print 7 July 2008, doi: 10.1161.CIRCULATIONAHA.108.190186.
2 Kahn R, Robertson RM, Smith R, Eddy D. The impact of prevention on reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease. Diabetes Care 2008;31:1-11.
3 American Medical Association. AMA adopts new policies at annual meeting (press release). Chicago, IL, June 17, 2008.

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