Low dose aspirin lowered stroke risk but not risk of myocardial infarction or cardiovascular death in women
- aspirin
- cardiovascular diseases
- cerebrovascular accident
- cyclooxygenase inhibitors
- myocardial infarction
Q Is low dose aspirin effective for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in women?
METHODS
Design:
randomised, placebo controlled trial (Women’s Health Study).
Allocation:
{concealed}.*
Blinding:
blinded {healthcare providers, participants, data collectors, and outcome assessors}.*
Follow up period:
mean 10 years.
Setting:
United States and Puerto Rico.
Patients:
39 876 women ⩾45 years of age (mean age 55 y) who had no history of coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, cancer (except non-melanoma skin cancer), or other major chronic illness; had no history of side effects to study medications; were not using aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications; were not taking anticoagulants or corticosteroids; and were not taking vitamin A or E, or β carotene supplements more than once per week.
Intervention:
aspirin, 100 mg every other day (n = 19 934), or placebo (n = 19 942). …
