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Preventing Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with Diabetes: Use of Aspirin for Primary Prevention

  • Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease (S Malik, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Diabetics are at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and are considered a coronary heart disease risk equivalent. The utility of aspirin in primary prevention of ASCVD in diabetic patients has been widely studied and is still debated. Overall, the current evidence suggests a modest benefit for reduction in ASCVD events with the greatest benefit among those with higher baseline risk, but at the cost of increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. Diabetic patients at higher risk (with 10-year ASCVD risk >10 %) are generally recommended for aspirin therapy if bleeding risk is felt to be low. A patient-provider discussion is recommended before prescribing aspirin therapy. Novel markers such as coronary artery calcium scores and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein may help refine ASCVD risk prediction and guide utility for aspirin therapy. This article will review the literature for the most up-to-date studies evaluating aspirin therapy for primary prevention of ASCVD in patients with diabetes.

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Conflict of Interest

Dhaval Desai, Haitham M. Ahmed, and Erin D. Michos declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Dhaval Desai

  2. Division of Cardiology, Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Carnegie 568, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Haitham M. Ahmed & Erin D. Michos

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  1. Dhaval Desai
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  2. Haitham M. Ahmed
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Correspondence to Erin D. Michos.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease

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Desai, D., Ahmed, H.M. & Michos, E.D. Preventing Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with Diabetes: Use of Aspirin for Primary Prevention. Curr Cardiol Rep 17, 13 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-015-0566-z

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