The USPSTF Makes Further (Incremental) Moves Away from Aspirin for CVD Primary Prevention

In 2016, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended prophylactic low-dose aspirin for patients without known cardiovascular disease (CVD) who were 50 to 59 and had 10-year risk for CVD of ≥10% (NEJM JW Gastroenterol Sep 2016 and Ann Intern Med 2016; 164:836). For other age groups and risk profiles, the USPSTF found either no evidence of benefit or evidence of very small benefit for aspirin use. In April 2022, the Task Force issued an updated guideline with two recommendation statements that address primary prevention with low-dose aspirin (NEJM JW Gen Med Jun 1 2022 and JAMA 2022; 327:1577):

• For patients who are 40 to 59 with 10-year CVD risk of ≥10%, the net benefit of aspirin is small, but patients at low risk for bleedin…