![]() Aspirin reduced the risk of a major recurrent stroke – one that causes death or severe disability – up to six weeks after the initial event by about 70% (HR 0.29, 95% CI 0.19-0.46).Among 11 trials, with 9,635 participants, aspirin reduced the risk of recurrent stroke within six weeks by about 60% (hazard ratio 0.41, 95% confidence interval 0.30 to 0.56) and this risk was similar for 12 weeks (HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.60).What did it find?Īspirin reduced the risk of a stroke occurring within 12 weeks of an original stroke or warning stroke. However, many of the studies were carried out in the 1980s and 1990s, when the medical treatment available was different to now and this may affect the extent of the benefit. Large similar studies were included and individual patient data was available which increases the reliability of their pooled results. The effects of aspirin and dipyridamole on the prevention of a second stroke were measured at the following times after the first event: within six weeks, 12 weeks and after 12 weeks. The studies compared the risk of having a second stroke after taking aspirin with or without another anti-clot forming drug, dipyridamole compared to placebo. This systematic review pooled data on outcomes for 15,778 participants in 12 randomised trials also looking at the length of time to these outcomes. This analysis focuses on the impact of aspirin taken early to reduce the short-term recurrence of stroke, particularly in those who have had a warning. However, a population-based survey from 2013 found that half of the people who went on to have a stroke in the days after a warning had not yet sought medical attention. The public health campaign, Act FAST, encourages people to seek urgent medical attention when experiencing stroke symptoms. Recurrence is common, 3 in 10 will have a repeated stroke or symptoms of stroke that resolve within 24 hours, a warning stroke known as a transient ischaemic attack.Įarly recognition and treatment improve outcomes. Stroke survivors often require long-term rehabilitation which costs the economy £9 billion per year. There are 152,000 strokes each year in the UK and it is the fourth commonest cause of death. The recommendation that imaging is required to see if a stroke is due to a bleed in the brain, or not, might be revised to allow early self-administration. The results support current recommendations that aspirin should be given immediately after a warning stroke known as a transient ischaemic attack. Aspirin importantly and significantly reduced the risk of early recurrent stroke in people with warning strokes and strokes perceived as less severe. This analysis of 12 large randomised controlled trials compared outcomes for adults taking aspirin, other drugs that prevent blood clots and no treatment. People with warning strokes, where symptoms resolve within 24 hours, stand to benefit by self-administering aspirin even before a scan can be organised. ![]() This is much better than the 13% reduction previously estimated. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and reviewer(s) at the time of publication.Īspirin taken as soon as possible after a stroke or symptoms of a stroke reduces the risk of further stroke within the next six weeks by about 60%. This is a plain English summary of an original research article.
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