About 70 percent of Americans with history of heart disease, stroke take aspirin

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

About 70% of Americans who have heart disease or a stroke regularly take low-dose aspirin, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

For the study, researchers from the U.S. CDC analyzed data from the 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which included patients surveyed via telephone from 20 states and the District of Columbia. They found that 70.8% of respondents take low-dose aspirin regularly. More importantly, nearly 94% of those with a history of heart problems reported taking low-dose aspirin regularly to prevent a heart attack

In addition, approximately 80% reported taking it for stroke prevention and 76% said they take it to prevent both. Only 4% of respondents reporting taking low-dose aspirin for pain relief only.

Mississippi had the highest aspirin use with 72% of patients with heart problems regularly taking low-dose aspirin. Missouri had the lowest with 44%. Researchers found the males, people 65 years and older, whites, and patients with at least two cardiac risk factors are more likely to take aspirin compared with other groups.

The findings suggest that clinicians should target patients reporting lower regular aspirin use like Hispanics, blacks, and those who did not attain a high school diploma.