Aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular events: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and subgroup analysis by sex and diabetes status

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the benefits and harms of aspirin for the primary prevention of CVD and determine whether the effects vary by sex and diabetes status.

Methods: We searched Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases for randomized controlled trials comparing the effects of aspirin with placebo or control in people with no pre-existing CVD. Two investigators independently extracted data and assessed the study quality. Analyses were performed using Stata version 12.

Results: Fourteen trials (107,686 participants) were eligible. Aspirin was associated with reductions in major cardiovascular events (risk ratio, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.85-0.95), myocardial infarction (0.86; 0.75-0.93), ischemic stroke (0.86; 0.75-0.98) and all-cause mortality (0.94; 0.89-0.99). There were also increases in hemorrhagic stroke (1.34; 1.01-1.79) and major bleeding (1.55; 1.35-1.78) with aspirin. The number needed to treat to prevent 1 major cardiovascular event over a mean follow-up of 6.8 years was 284. By comparison, the numbers needed to harm to cause 1 major bleeding is 299. In subgroup analyses, pooled results demonstrated a reduction in myocardial infarction among men (0.71; 0.59-0.85) and ischemic stroke among women (0.77; 0.63-0.93). Aspirin use was associated with a reduction (0.65; 0.51-0.82) in myocardial infarction among diabetic men. In meta-regression analyses, the results suggested that aspirin therapy might be associated with a decrease in stroke among diabetic women and a decrease in MI among diabetic men and risk reductions achieved with low doses (75 mg/day) were as large as those obtained with higher doses (650 mg/day).

Conclusions: The use of low-dose aspirin was beneficial for primary prevention of CVD and the decision regarding an aspirin regimen should be made on an individual patient basis. The effects of aspirin therapy varied by sex and diabetes status. A clear benefit of aspirin in the primary prevention of CVD in people with diabetes needs more trials.

Figure 1. Flow chart of articles selection for this systematic review and meta-analysis.

Figure 2. Effect of aspirin therapy versus placebo or control for primary prevention of CVD.

MCE = major cardiovascular events; MI = myocardial infarction; CVD = cardiovascular disease.

Figure 3. Meta-regression between male percentage and the effects of aspirin on risk of MI or stroke.

(A) Log relative risk of stroke in relation to male percentage in all people. (B) Log relative risk of MI in relation to male percentage in diabetic patients. (C) Log relative risk of stroke in relation to male percentage in diabetic patients. The gray bonds in each figure are confidence interval. The size of the bubble represents the value of the weight. MI = myocardial infarction.