Acetylsalicylic acid in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases

Abstract:

Even after being in use for over 110 years, acetylsalicylic acid is still a surprisingly efficient and cost-effective drug. The use of this medicine in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases is based on the evidence in clinical guidelines, and the risk/benefit ratio of its administration must always be taken in account. The current European guidelines on cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention issued by the European Society of Cardiology advise that acetylsalicylic acid be administered in low doses (75-100 mg/day) in all CVD patients without contraindications and patients at >10% risk according to the SCORE tables, after satisfactory control of blood pressure. 

Key words:
aspirin; cardiovascular diseases; evidence-based medicine; mortality, cardiovascular diseases; primary prevention; secondary prevention