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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Aspirin Use to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease: Preventive Medication

About this resource:

Systematic Review

Source: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Last Reviewed: April 2022

Workgroups: Access to Health Services Workgroup, Heart Disease and Stroke Workgroup, Older Adults Workgroup

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that the decision to initiate low-dose aspirin use to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults ages 40 to 59 years who have a 10% or greater 10-year CVD risk should be individualized. 

Current evidence indicates that the net benefit of aspirin use in this group is small. People who are not at increased risk for bleeding and are willing to take low-dose aspirin daily are more likely to benefit. 

USPSTF recommends against initiating low-dose aspirin use for the primary prevention of CVD in adults age 60 years and older.

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Objectives related to this resource (2)

Increase the proportion of adults who get recommended evidence-based preventive health care — AHS‑08
Getting worse
Improve cardiovascular health in adults — HDS‑01
Little or no detectable change

Suggested Citation

1.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (2022). Final update summary: Aspirin Use to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease: Preventive Medication. Retrieved from https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/aspirin-to-prevent-cardiovascular-disease-preventive-medication.