- Researchers report that older adults who take a low-dose aspirin every day have a higher risk of developing anemia.
- Last year, a federal task force recommended that people over the age of 60 should not take aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease.
- Experts say there are some benefits of daily aspirin use for people under the age of 60.
Taking a low-dose aspirin every day could cause anemia, according to a new study published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Researchers analyzed data from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) study for reach their conclusions.
For their study, the researchers randomly assigned 19,114 people 70 and older to take either a 100 mg aspirin or a placebo.
The scientists followed the participants for an average of 5 years, measuring the participants’ hemoglobin annually.
They measured ferritin levels at baseline and again three years after randomization. Ferritin is a protein inside blood cells that stores iron and releases it as your body needs it.
When compared to participants taking a placebo, the researchers reported that their findings included:
- The risk of developing anemia by about 20% higher for those taking aspirin daily
- There was a slight decrease in mean hemoglobin in those taking aspirin
- There was a more significant decline in ferritin concentrations
They said the results suggest periodic monitoring for iron and ferritin levels of people taking daily aspirin.
“Overall, the study has a large number of participants, which gives it more value and credibility,” said Dr. Neal Patel, a family medicine specialist with Providence St. Joseph Hospital in California who was not involved in the study, told Medical News Today. “The fact that they did this study in two different countries also helps bolster the results.”
In April 2022, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended that adults 60…
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