In real life, many older adults stop taking daily aspirin before the end of a long-term study, which means the actual benefit or harm in everyday use may be less than what researchers observe in controlled trials.
Evidence from Studies
No evidence studies found yet.
What Would Prove This
Per GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this claim, ordered from strongest to weakest.
A systematic review would quantify the average adherence to daily aspirin in elderly populations across multiple trials and identify predictors of non-adherence.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of all randomized controlled trials of low-dose aspirin in adults aged 65+, extracting adherence rates at 1, 3, and 5 years, and performing subgroup analyses by age, sex, education, and baseline health status, using intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses.
A new RCT with embedded adherence monitoring could determine whether interventions (e.g., reminders, counseling) improve aspirin adherence in elderly populations.
A double-blind RCT of 3,000 adults aged 70+ randomized to 100 mg aspirin plus weekly text reminders and monthly phone check-ins vs. aspirin alone, with primary outcome of adherence (pill count >80%) at 12 and 24 months, and secondary outcomes of bleeding and disability.
A prospective cohort could identify real-world factors (e.g., cost, side effects, physician advice) that predict long-term aspirin adherence in elderly populations.
A prospective cohort study following 10,000 adults aged 70+ prescribed aspirin for primary prevention, tracking adherence via pharmacy refill records, patient interviews, and pill counts over 5 years, with multivariable analysis of predictors including cost, side effects, and provider communication.
A case-control study could compare characteristics of elderly aspirin users who discontinued vs. those who continued long-term.
A case-control study comparing 1,000 elderly patients who discontinued aspirin within 2 years to 1,000 who continued for 5+ years, using structured interviews to assess reasons for discontinuation (e.g., bleeding, cost, forgetfulness), adjusting for age, sex, and comorbidities.
A cross-sectional survey could estimate the proportion of elderly adults currently taking aspirin and their reasons for use or discontinuation.
A cross-sectional survey of 8,000 adults aged 70+ in community settings, asking whether they currently take aspirin, how long they have taken it, and why they started or stopped, with adjustment for age, sex, and education.