Low-dose aspirin therapy for chronic stable angina: A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Article Abstract:

Angina, chest pain caused by coronary artery disease, is described as stable when it occurs predictably, with a specific degree of exertion. Chronic stable angina patients have a yearly 2 to 10 percent chance of death from their coronary artery disease. Aspirin has been found to decrease death from coronary artery disease in people who have already had heart attacks, strokes, or unstable angina (angina that occurs at rest). Aspirin also decreases the risk of a first heart attack in healthy men by 44 percent. To study the effects of aspirin therapy on mortality in patients with chronic stable angina, a group of 333 male physicians with stable angina were randomly assigned to take either one aspirin every other day (178 patients) or a placebo every other day (155 patients). In the 5 years during which these men were followed, 27 deaths occurred, 7 in the aspirin group and 20 in the placebo group, yielding an 87 percent reduction in the risk of first heart attack for the aspirin group. Aspirin appears to reduce the risk of heart attack by decreasing the ability of the platelets, blood cells important in the formation of blood clots, from clumping together, which can occur in diseased coronary arteries. Of note, 13 people in the study suffered strokes, 11 in the aspirin group and 2 in the placebo group. These results were inconsistent with a number of earlier studies that showed a significant decrease in the risk of stroke for patients who take aspirin. Thus, every other day low dose aspirin therapy seems to offer great promise in reducing the risk of first heart attacks in men with chronic stable angina. However, the risks that may be associated with this treatment must be weighed in the decision, and should be the subject of further research. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Care and treatment, Physiological aspects, Heart attack, Angina pectoris

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Baseline IgG Antibody Titers to Chlamydia pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, Herpes Simplex Virus, and Cytomegalovirus and the Risk for Cardiovascular Disease in Women

Article Abstract:

Exposure to infectious organisms does not appear to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in women. Researchers analyzed blood samples from 122 women with cardiovascular disease and 244 healthy women for antibodies against Chlamydia pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, herpes simplex virus, or cytomegalovirus. This would indicate the women had been exposed to these infectious organisms. Healthy women were just as likely to have antibodies against one or more of these organisms as the women with cardiovascular disease.

Infection, Cardiovascular diseases, Risk factors, Communicable diseases

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Aspirin use and colorectal cancer: post-trial follow-up data from the Physicians' Health Study

Article Abstract:

Regular aspirin use may not lower the risk of colorectal cancer in men. Researchers followed 22,071 male physicians participating in the Physicians' Health Study who were randomly assigned to take aspirin or placebo every other day. Over 12 years of follow-up, the incidence of colorectal cancer was similar in both groups.

Colorectal cancer

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