<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW195408586 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW195408586 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="1670848059" paraeid="{c52de34c-0a7e-4763-8966-df9f792ccbea}{201}"><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" class="TextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">The use of aspirin as a secondary prevention method for cardiovascular disease (CVD)<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">remain</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>stable despite negative messaging in the<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW195408586 BCX0">media,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>a new cross-sectional analysis shows.</span></span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW195408586 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW195408586 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW195408586 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="602707904" paraeid="{f0250be6-c9f8-47d1-b4a2-7d869688d19b}{188}"><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" class="TextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">Additionally, patient-doctor communication<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">impacts</span><span> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">usage</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>in individuals who cho</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">ose to or not to take aspirin.</span></span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW195408586 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW195408586 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW195408586 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="1283630653" paraeid="{8526bcf2-0da3-4c1d-b7be-a889f68060b1}{27}"><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" class="TextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">Jeremy R. Van’t Hof, MD, MS, of the University of Minnesota Medical School, and colleagues, reported<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW195408586 BCX0">these</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>data in a research letter published online<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">in</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>the</span><span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><em>JAMA Network Open</em>.</span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW195408586 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW195408586 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW195408586 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="1908021743" paraeid="{13a00f43-b5c4-4e61-963f-1dc88957e0ae}{57}"><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" class="TextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">Many people take aspirin as a secondary prevention me</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">thod</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">, but<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">using<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">aspirin as primary prevention for cardiovascular disease is more controversial.<span> </span></span></span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW195408586 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW195408586 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW195408586 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="785224135" paraeid="{c0ed2e39-2837-43b5-b62e-f849c0fd442e}{221}"><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" class="TextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">When used for primary prevention</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD)</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">, aspirin can increase bleeding risk, and prior research has<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">demonstrated</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>this.</span><span> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">T</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">he media and the public responses<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">to these data<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">were mostly negative, and people with ASCVD<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">generally decreased</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>aspirin usage</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>as a primary prevention method</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">.</span></span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW195408586 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW195408586 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW195408586 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="1778731269" paraeid="{8867e7b1-6935-4ff2-a403-89979a6ee637}{104}"><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" class="TextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">Investigators in this cohort study examined</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>how</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>the use of aspirin in adults with ASCVD<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">as a secondary prevention<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">method</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>changed between 2015 and 2020. They also<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">investigated the reasons people avoid or stop using aspirin.</span></span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW195408586 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW195408586 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW195408586 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="1186031606" paraeid="{c26b0400-dfb0-4c00-a3a3-57ae1fe3dec5}{85}"><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" class="TextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">The project, titled Ask About Aspirin, took place across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota,<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW195408586 BCX0">Iowa</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>and Wisconsin. Cross-sectional surveys were conducted in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>All data were self-reported, and questions covered aspirin use, ASCVD<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">histor</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">y</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>and</span><span> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">Data analysis took place from May 7, 2024 – April 11, 2026.<span> </span></span></span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW195408586 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW195408586 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW195408586 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="1184233117" paraeid="{35f765e3-0b16-4d4b-b4cf-326c29ba0e5b}{222}"><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" class="TextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">A total of 1,890 participants with ASCVD were included in the analyses (median age=70 years, 38.0% female). Of these patients, 75.5% currently took aspirin</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>(median age=71</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>years</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">, 35.5% female)</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">, 14.7% never used aspirin<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">(median age=69 years, 49.5% female)<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">and 9.8% stopped using aspirin</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>(median age=69 years, 40.3% female)</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">.</span></span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW195408586 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW195408586 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW195408586 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="1963395201" paraeid="{c5c10171-f7d5-4712-bf06-db092994ef9c}{42}"><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" class="TextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">Individuals who never used aspirin were younger, more likely to be female and had lower rates of high blood pressure,<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">hyperlipidemia</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>and diabetes. These participants also had the highest rates of peripher</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">al artery disease (PAD), but the lowest rates of heart attack.</span></span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW195408586 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW195408586 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW195408586 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="1721898172" paraeid="{9b8a93e5-2787-457d-97f4-8ac702e034de}{72}"><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" class="TextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">Individuals who currently t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">ook</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>and who stopped taking aspirin had similar demographics and risk factors for CVD.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>Regular aspirin users had the lowest rates of stroke compared with all other groups.</span></span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW195408586 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW195408586 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW195408586 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="556182904" paraeid="{a94fc7e8-86fb-4e51-b25d-c2b1834b254a}{255}"><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" class="TextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">People who used aspirin regularly<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">were more likely to have conversations with their<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">doctor</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>about aspirin use (64.4% of aspirin users)</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>compared with those who stopped taking aspirin (44.1%) and people who never used aspirin (18.1%).</span></span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW195408586 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW195408586 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW195408586 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="1204442936" paraeid="{d08e3893-eb66-4637-a3d6-a5987bde1575}{241}"><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" class="TextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">After variable adjustment, individuals who reported having conversations with their doctor about aspirin were 50% less likely to stop taking aspirin compared with those who<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">didn’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>talk to their doctor</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">.</span></span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW195408586 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW195408586 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW195408586 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="714521699" paraeid="{f0bbc912-b8b5-412c-be1b-b374407ecb85}{74}"><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" class="TextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">Many participants reported hearing messaging about the use of aspirin as a primary prevention strategy (64.9% of 1,890), the investigators highlighted. Some of these messages were<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">deemed</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>to be negative in<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">2015 (3.0%) and 2017 (4.5%), but this significantly increased in 2019 and 2020 (23.5%).</span></span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW195408586 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW195408586 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW195408586 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="1406631569" paraeid="{d8cfe124-9b65-46e5-93a6-398b6c7a5aeb}{2}"><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" class="TextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">The investigators found no reduction of aspirin use for secondary prevention across the three surveys used.<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">Only 3 of 164 people who stopped using aspirin said they stopped due to negative messaging, and 108 of 164 stopped due to a doctor’s recommendation.</span></span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW195408586 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW195408586 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW195408586 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="1460248363" paraeid="{f09fb392-ea7e-46e9-b1a8-a45c0386f6cd}{164}"><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" class="TextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">“Despite increasing awareness of negative aspirin messaging and a national decline in aspirin use for primary prevention</span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW195408586 BCX0">, adults</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>in the 5 study states demonstrated stable aspirin use for secondary prevention of ASCVD from 2015 to 2020,” the authors wrote.</span></span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW195408586 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW195408586 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW195408586 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="1024561103" paraeid="{13e27266-6d78-4048-8b2b-49cbf5c10981}{67}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">“</span><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" class="TextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">Our findings underscore the critical role of accessible primary care and effective patient-clinician communication for maintaining adherence to<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">evidence-based</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>prevention strategies amid evolving guidelines and conflicting public health messages.”</span></span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW195408586 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW195408586 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW195408586 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="1067789850" paraeid="{13e27266-6d78-4048-8b2b-49cbf5c10981}{155}"><strong><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">Source:</span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW195408586 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></strong></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW195408586 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW195408586 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="1493299791" paraeid="{13e27266-6d78-4048-8b2b-49cbf5c10981}{225}"><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" class="TextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">Van’t Hof JR, Duval S, Oldenburg N, et al. Aspirin<span> </span></span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW195408586 BCX0">use</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span> </span>for secondary prevention amid negative messaging in patients with cardiovascular disease.<span> </span></span></span><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" class="TextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><em><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">JAMA </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW195408586 BCX0">Netw</span></em><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"><em> Open</em>.<span> </span></span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">2026 June 4 (Article in Press).</span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW195408586 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW195408586 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW195408586 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="1881269692" paraeid="{6288bb39-f58d-4a19-a169-bc272e0a14f8}{222}"><strong><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW195408586 BCX0"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">Image Credit: </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW195408586 BCX0">ironstealth</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW195408586 BCX0">– stock.adobe.com</span></span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW195408586 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></strong></p> </div>