Are We Underestimating Aspirin's Benefits for Short-Term Recurrent Stroke Prevention?

A meta-analysis suggests so, although the practice context has changed.

Although aspirin is in widespread use for long-term secondary prevention of stroke, its effects on reducing stroke in the first few weeks and months after a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke have been studied less. Because the first 90 days after a TIA are the highest risk period for recurrent vascular events, the effects of aspirin during this period are of particular interest.

These authors performed an analysis of 12 randomized, controlled trials of aspirin after TIA or stroke that included information on timing and severity of vascular events. A total of 15,778 participants were included; 11 trials studied aspirin alone versus a control. In these 11 trials, aspirin significantly reduced the 6-week risk for recurrent ischemic stro…

Reviewing Author

Seemant Chaturvedi, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBayer Pharmaceuticals; Novartis

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Editorial BoardsNeurology; Stroke

Seemant Chaturvedi, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBayer Pharmaceuticals; Novartis

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Editorial BoardsNeurology; Stroke

Are We Underestimating Aspirin's Benefits for Short-Term Recurrent Stroke Prevention?

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Reviewing Author