Among healthy adults aged 70 or older, those who previously took daily aspirin in a clinical trial had a higher rate of serious heart problems in the years after the trial ended, compared to those...

We analyzed the available evidence and found that among healthy adults aged 70 or older, those who stopped taking daily aspirin after participating in a clinical trial had a higher rate of serious heart problems in the years following, compared to those who had taken a placebo [1]. This pattern was observed in all the data we reviewed, with no studies contradicting it. However, we cannot say aspirin directly caused these events. The increase in heart problems may be linked to how the body adjusts after stopping aspirin, or to differences in who kept taking aspirin after the trial ended. We don’t have enough detail to know which factor played a bigger role. The evidence we’ve reviewed so far leans toward the idea that stopping aspirin in this group is associated with a rise in heart events, but we can’t say why. It’s possible the body’s response to withdrawal, or changes in behavior after the trial, contributed. We don’t know if this applies to people with existing heart conditions or those who took aspirin for other reasons. What we’ve found so far suggests that for healthy older adults who’ve been on daily aspirin, stopping it may be linked to a higher chance of heart problems — but the reason remains unclear. If you’re considering stopping aspirin, talk to your doctor — don’t stop on your own.