Cleveland Clinic Journal of MedicineAspirin for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: What Do the Current USPSTF Guidelines Say?

Clinicians are directed to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association pooled cohort equation, which takes into account age, gender, blood pressure, lipids, diabetes mellitus, and tobacco use but not family history. The USPSTF now advises against starting aspirin therapy in individuals 60 and older since there is no net benefit and the risk of damage may outweigh the benefit. The USPSTF guidelines are based on evidence from 13 trials, which show that aspirin has a slight advantage for select adults aged 40 to 59, but no net benefit (with the potential for harm) for patients aged 60 and older.