Doctors have discovered a drug that is more effective than aspirin in preventing heart attacks and strokes, a discovery that could change global health recommendations.
For many years, millions of people have been advised to take low doses of aspirin daily to thin their blood and reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular events. But new research presented at the world's largest cardiology congress in Madrid and published in The Lancet has shown that clopidogrel, a widely prescribed anticoagulant, is more effective and does not increase the risk of serious bleeding.
An international team of researchers from the US, UK, Australia, Switzerland, and Japan analyzed nearly 29,000 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and found that clopidogrel is better at preventing heart attacks and strokes without additional risks. CHD is the most common form of cardiovascular disease and the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. The disease occurs when the arteries of the heart narrow due to fatty deposits (atheroma), causing angina, and complete blockage can lead to a heart attack.
The results call into question long-standing recommendations for the use of aspirin as a standard preventive measure for cardiovascular events in millions of patients. An analysis of seven clinical trials showed that the risk of serious cardiovascular or cerebral complications while taking clopidogrel is 14% lower than in patients taking aspirin.
At the same time, the frequency of dangerous bleeding was similar in both groups, which dispelled concerns about an increased risk with clopidogrel. The authors of the study concluded: “Long-term monotherapy with clopidogrel in patients with CHD provides more reliable protection against major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events compared to aspirin, without an additional risk of bleeding.”
Follow NEWS.am Medicine on Facebook and Twitter