Aspirin Utilization on Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: An Update

Abstract

Background: Aspirin utilization on secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease as well as in the acute phase of a myocardial infarction (MI) and an ischemic stroke is well fundamented on evidence by randomized clinical trials. Nevertheless, aspirin utilization on primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has not demonstrated benefits on decreasing CVD mortality or ischemic stroke morbidity and has only demonstrated a decrease in MI morbidity. Source: a search was conducted looking for original articles, systematic reviews, metaanalisis and review articles on medical journal databases like PUBMED, EMBASE and HINARI through Sciendirect with a time range 1990-2014. Development: This manuscript will focus on showing the reader, the accumulated evidence until now that sustains the utilization of aspirin on primary prevention and to clinically orient physicians to knowing who to prescribe aspirin for primary prevention. Conclusions: Aspirin utilization on secondary prevention is well sustained through evidence by randomized controlled trials, international consensus and guidelines, nevertheless, aspirin on primary prevention has not consistently showed a benefit from its utilization and its only recommended for persons with high cardiovascular risk and without cardiovascular disease.