Outcomes With Aspirin for Primary Prevention in Heart Failure, Type 2 Diabetes

In patients with heart failure and type 2 diabetes (T2D), primary prevention with aspirin reduced all-cause mortality but increased nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology 67th Annual Scientific Session, held March 10-12, 2018, in Orlando, Florida.

Charbel Abi Khalil, MD, PhD, and colleagues analyzed data from The Health Improvement Network UK primary care database to assess the effect of aspirin for primary prevention in patients with heart failure and T2D.

Data were obtained from 12,534 participants with no prior history of MI, stroke, peripheral artery disease, or atrial fibrillation. In total, 5967 participants were given aspirin (137 were given a >75-mg dose) and 6567 did not take aspirin.

In the 5.2-year follow-up, aspirin reduced all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalization (HR 0.89; 95% CI, 0.84-0.94). No increased benefit was seen with the higher >75-mg dose. However, there was an increase in nonfatal MI and stroke.

Aspirin for primary prevention reduced all-cause mortality and hospitalization in patients with heart failure and T2D but increased nonfatal MI and stroke.

Reference

Abi Khalil C, Omar O, Al Suwaidi J, Taheri S. Primary prevention with aspirin reduces mortality in type 2 diabetes and heart failure: results from the THIN primary care database. Presented at: American College of Cardiology 67th Annual Scientific Session & Expo; March 10-12, 2018; Orlando, FL. Abstract 14372.