An aspirin a day keeps the doctors away

Researchers at the George Institute for Global Health in Sydney say that in four years, an aspirin a day can prevent 54 deaths, 40 strokes and 40 non-fatal heart attacks for every 1,000 people with kidney disease.

The study results are based on data from an international study of over 18,000 people with high blood pressure aged between 50 and 80, approximately 20% of whom had mild to moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD).

The analysis also confirmed that people who have previously had a stroke or heart attack can stave off a repeat episode by taking aspirin.

Lead study author, Dr Meg Jardine, said that the study shows that people with high blood pressure and CKD would really benefit from taking aspirin to prevent the blood clots that lead to heart attacks and stroke; but because this group are often not analysed separately in clinical trials, we’ve lacked the evidence for providing this treatment until now.

In relation to CKD, a new report, Prevention of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease: targeting risk factors, released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows that while a lot is being done to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease, significant levels of risk still remain.

”It may take years before we see any discernible effect on these three diseases,” said Lynelle Moon, head of the AIHW’s Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes and Kidney Unit.

According to the report, cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes and CKD account for around a quarter of the burden of disease and just under two-thirds of all deaths in Australia.

The three diseases often occur together, and have common risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, overweight and obesity, and physical inactivity.

“Inactivity, overweight and obesity, and high cholesterol affect over 50% of adults, while smoking and high blood pressure affect 20–35% of adults,” Ms Moon said.

“Indigenous Australians and people from lower socioeconomic groups are particularly affected,” she said.

The report also showed that the prevalence of some risk factors is increasing. Obesity for example, rose from 11% of adults in 1995 to 24% in 2007–08.

“One way risk factors can be detected is through health checks,” said Ms Moon.

“There were almost half a million individual health checks funded by Medicare in 2007–08 and the rate of these checks is increasing.”

Medications play an important role in managing the risk factors. Around 20% of all medicines supplied in the community in 2007 were for lowering blood pressure, and another 8% were for lowering cholesterol.

The report showed a need for ongoing monitoring in the area of prevention, including more up-to-date data based on actual measurements rather than self-reported data, as well as systematic data on population-level initiatives.

“While there are many population level services and interventions being offered by governments and other organisations, such as awareness campaigns and school-based programs, there is a lack of systematic data available on these services,” Ms Moon said.

“Our report is the first to present a systematic approach to monitoring risk factor prevention activities for CVD, diabetes and CKD in Australia,” she said.