April 28, 2022
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has finalized changes to its national recommendations for the use of aspirin in primary prevention of heart disease in patients. Specifically, USPSTF recommends individual decision making for patients ages 40-59 years at increased risk for heart disease and discourages use for patients aged ≥60 years.
Details of their recommendations can be found here: Aspirin Use to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease: Preventive Medication
If you are currently taking aspirin for known heart disease (prior heart attack, stroke, Afib/atrial fibrillation, coronary stenting, valvular heart disease, peripheral arterial disease), you should continue to take aspirin. These guidelines do not pertain to you.
However, if you currently are on aspirin for primary prevention, we recommend that you continue to take aspirin until you have discussed stopping it with your physician. There can be other reasons that increase your cardiovascular disease risk that may tip the scales for you to remain on aspirin (such as an elevated coronary artery calcium score).
You can reach your physician by calling the office or sending a MyChart message.