The US Preventive Services Task Force has come out with guidelines on the use of Aspirin for the primary prevention of CVD and colorectal cancer.

The recommendations were published on April 12th in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Key recommendations are:

1. Low-dose Aspirin may be used for the primary prevention of CVD and Colorectal carcinoma in adults who meet the following criteria

• Age: 50 to 59 years.
• Do not have a higher risk of bleeding.
• With a 10 year CVD risk greater than 10%.
• Have a life expectancy of at least 10 years.
• Are willing to take low dose Aspirin daily for at least 10 years.

2. In individuals aged between 60 to 69 years, the decision to initiate low-dose Aspirin should be an individual one.

• Those who are not at an increased risk of bleeding, have a life expectancy of at least 10 years and are will to take daily medication are more likely to benefit.

3. The current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of initiating Aspirin use for the primary prevention of CVD and CRC in adults younger than 50 years and in those older than 70 years.

Source: Annals of Internal Medicine

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