Aspirin in Patients with Heart Failure: Is It Safe After All?

It doesn't seem unsafe — but these results don't provide license to use aspirin with abandon.

Aspirin is frequently provided to patients with heart failure (HF), particularly those with coronary disease, despite theoretical concerns that aspirin might antagonize angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, promote sodium retention, or cause hypertension. How these issues bear out in practice has been debated. A post hoc analysis of the WATCH trial of warfarin vs. aspirin (162 mg daily) for thromboprophylaxis in patients with systolic HF suggested a higher risk for HF hospitalization with aspirin. Now, researchers have performed a secondary analysis of data from the WARCEF trial, which randomized 2305 people with heart failure in sinus rhythm and reduced left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF; ≤35%) to warfarin or aspirin (325 m…

Reviewing Author

Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH, FACC, FAHA

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBristol Myers Squibb; CPC Clinical Research

Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; American College of Cardiology Self-Assessment Program (SAP)

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology (Chair, Innovations Committee)

Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH, FACC, FAHA

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBristol Myers Squibb; CPC Clinical Research

Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; American College of Cardiology Self-Assessment Program (SAP)

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology (Chair, Innovations Committee)

Aspirin in Patients with Heart Failure: Is It Safe After All?

Topics

Reviewing Author