Background
Aspirin is effective for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events,
but its use has been suboptimal.
Methods
Investigators performed a nationally representative Internet-based survey of U.S.
consumers aged 40 and older using online databases maintained by Harris Interactive® to measure use of aspirin for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and factors
associated with its use. Respondents reported whether they used aspirin therapy regularly
for cardiovascular prevention; and provided information about their cardiovascular
risk factors, discussions with their healthcare provider about aspirin therapy, and
their perceptions about risks and benefits of aspirin. Objective risk of cardiovascular
events was estimated using counts of self-reported risk factors. Survey results were
weighted to be representative of the general U.S. population. Researchers performed
bivariate and multivariate analyses to understand factors associated with aspirin
use.
Results
A total of 1299 adults aged 40 or older completed the survey. Mean age was 55.9, 53%
were women, 79% self-identified as white, 10% African American, and 9% Latino. Current
regular aspirin use for CVD prevention was reported by 41% of respondents. The factor
most strongly associated with aspirin use was reporting a previous conversation with
a healthcare provider about aspirin (88% aspirin use among respondents reporting such
discussion versus 17% who did not report discussion; odds ratio 36.6, 95% confidence
interval 25.9–51.7).
Conclusions
Aspirin use is low, even among patients at increased risk. Better provider–patient
communication about aspirin prevention is associated with greater use, and should
be a target for future interventions.
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Copyright
© 2007 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
