Concurrent Use of Low-Dose Aspirin and Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Risk of Upper Gastrointestinal Complications: A Cohort Study with Nested Case-Control Analysis

Abstract

The risk of upper gastrointestinal complications (UGIC) due to low-dose aspirin (LDA) can be further increased by the concurrent exposure to other antithrombotic agents. Little is known on the combined therapy with LDA and medications containing omega-3 (OM3) fatty acids, which also exert antiplatelet activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk of UGIC in patients exposed to LDA-OM3 combination. The Italian Health Search IMS Health Longitudinal Patients Database was used to perform a population-based cohort study. Patients aged ≥18 years with cardio- or cerebrovascular ischaemic disease recorded between 2002 and 2012 (cohort entry) were selected. All UGIC cases (index date) observed up to December 2013 were identified. According to a nested case-control analysis, up to 10 controls were matched to each case on age, sex and calendar period. The risk of UGIC was investigated among current (up to 30 days preceding index date), recent (31-60 days) and past users (61-365 days) of the LDA-OM3 combination. Exposure assessment was lagged by 30 days to minimize reverse causation. Additionally, a duration-response analysis was performed. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using conditional logistic regression. Non-users of the LDA-OM3 combination were the reference category. Current (OR = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.44-1.00), recent (OR = 0.83; 95% CI: 0.52-1.33) and past users (OR = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.57-1.15) did not statistically significantly increase the risk of UGIC. No duration-response relationship was found. Our results suggest that LDA-OM3 combination therapy does not affect the UGIC risk in patients with cardio- or cerebrovascular ischaemic diseases. Given the novelty of these findings, further studies are needed.