- Researchers report that older grownups who take a low-dose aspirin every day have a greater threat of establishing anemia.
- Last year, a federal task force suggested that individuals over the age of 60 ought to not take aspirin to avoid heart disease.
- Experts state there are some advantages of everyday aspirin usage for individuals under the age of 60.
Taking a low-dose aspirin every day might trigger anemia, according to a brand-new research study released in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Researchers evaluated information from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) research study for reach their conclusions.
For their research study, the scientists arbitrarily designated 19,114 individuals 70 and older to take either a 100 mg aspirin or a placebo.
The researchers followed the individuals for approximately 5 years, determining the individuals’ hemoglobin each year.
They determined ferritin levels at standard and once again 3 years after randomization. Ferritin is a protein inside blood cells that shops iron and launches it as your body requires it.
When compared to individuals taking a placebo, the scientists reported that their findings consisted of:
- The threat of establishing anemia by about 20% greater for those taking aspirin everyday
- There was a minor decline in mean hemoglobin in those taking aspirin
- There was a more substantial decrease in ferritin concentrations
They said the outcomes recommend regular tracking for iron and ferritin levels of individuals taking everyday aspirin.
“Overall, the study has a large number of participants, which gives it more value and credibility,” said Dr. Neal Patel, a family medication expert with Providence St. Joseph Hospital in California who was not associated with the research study, informed Medical News Today. “The fact that they did this study in two different countries also helps bolster the results.”
In April 2022, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force suggested that grownups 60 and over ought to not take aspirin to avoid heart disease.
For individuals 40 to 59, the task force said aspirin needs to be thought about separately for individuals with an approximated cardiovascular threat of 10% or more.
“Aspirin works by thinning the blood, which helps to reduce the risk of plaque rupturing, which then reduces the risk of blood clotting.,” Patel explained. “Over the span of a person’s life, cholesterol and plaque can build up against the walls of the arteries in the heart and the body. Thus, blood now has less space to flow through, which can lead to increased pressure through those arteries. If the pressure rises high enough, there is a risk that the plaque can rip off the side of the artery wall, which can lead to bleeding.”
Once any kind of bleeding happens in the body, its objective is to stop the bleeding by producing an embolism,” Patel included. “However, creating a clot in the artery can cut off the blood supply, leading to heart attacks and even strokes. Therefore, by thinning the blood, it is presumed that the chance of plaque rupture decreases since there is less pressure and shear force being applied against the plaque wall.”
Around 3 million individuals in the United States have anemia, according to the American Society of Hematology.
The condition happens when there aren’t sufficient red cell or when these cells don’t operate appropriately.
The American Society of Hematology notes the signs of anemia as follows:
“In older adults, the association between aspirin use and anemia is primarily related to the increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding,” said Dr. David Cutler, a family medication doctor at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in California who was not associated with the research study. “When there is chronic or recurrent bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, it can lead to iron deficiency anemia, as iron is necessary for the production of hemoglobin in red blood cells. Chronic blood loss can deplete iron stores in the body, resulting in anemia over time.”
“It’s important to note that not all older adults who use aspirin will develop anemia and the risk varies depending on several factors such as the individual’s overall health, dose and duration of aspirin use, and any other underlying conditions they may have,” Cutler informed Medical News Today. “There are alternative medications available that may have a lower risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, as well as protective medication to prevent bleeding when aspirin or other NSAID medication is used. The decision on which, if any, medication to use requires the knowledgeable weighing of risks and benefits as well as considering all alternatives.”
“Alternatives to aspirin would depend on the condition for which aspirin is being used,” Cutler included. “Some of the common uses of aspirin are for pain, inflammation, and preventing the clotting of blood, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is an alternative pain medication. Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) is an alternative NSAID anti-inflammatory. Clopidogrel (Plavix) is an antiplatelet drug that prevents clots.”
Daily aspirin usage is related to an increased threat of intracranial hemorrhage, according to a
Xarelto and Eliquis, utilized to treat atrial fibrillation and embolism, can considerably
“Other potential side effects, of course, include bleeding, abdominal pain, abdominal ulcers, dehydration, nausea, vomiting, rash/hives (if allergic reaction), bruising, increased risk of brain bleeds if a patient has a head injury, kidney and liver issues,” Patel said.
However, Patel said aspirin does have advantageous usages.
“I’d rather my patients take a low dose aspirin to prevent further cardiovascular complications rather than not take it and worry about risks of anemia,” he said. “Nowadays they have ‘enteric’ coated aspirin, which means that the pills can withstand the acid that is released from the stomach before they are fully dissolved in the small intestine. This may provide added protection against stomach/GI bleeds.”
