New guidance from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says people over the age of 60 should not start taking daily, low-dose aspirin to prevent cardiovascular events like heart attacks or strokes.
Low-dose aspirin had been a popular prevention measure, but as more evidence has accumulated its benefit has come into question. On Tuesday the task force finalized new recommendations advising against the practice. The task force concludes that initiating daily aspirin in adults 60 years or older has “no net benefit,” and increases a person’s risk of internal bleeding.
For adults 40 to 59 years of age, a daily aspirin may have a “small net benefit,” according to the task force, which sifted through the most recent studies and weighed the benefits and the risks.
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