Low-dose daily aspirin intake increased risk of anemia in older adults
Long-term regular use of aspirin in the elderly increased the likelihood of developing anemia. The drug was associated with decreased hemoglobin and ferritin levels even in patients without massive bleeding.Researchers from Monash University, the University of Melbourne and Duke University in North Carolina evaluated the safety of long-term, low-dose daily aspirin administration in elderly patients. The results of an additional analysis of the ASPREE study are published on the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Web site, citing the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.
The incidence of anemia in the aspirin group was 51.2 cases per 1,000 person-years and 42.9 cases per 1,000 person-years in the placebo group. The risk of developing anemia on aspirin increased by 20%. A more pronounced decrease in hemoglobin levels was noted in the aspirin group compared to the placebo group (the difference in the decrease in hemoglobin levels over five years was 0.6 g/l). In addition, the aspirin group had a higher proportion of participants with a ferritin level of less than 45 mcg/L three years after the start of the study. Compared with the placebo group, the aspirin group had an average 11.5% lower ferritin level.
The study enrolled 19,114 people 70 years of age and older who were taking 100 mg of aspirin or placebo daily. All participants had their hemoglobin levels determined annually. Ferritin concentrations were measured before the study began and three years later.
The results were similar in analyses excluding patients with massive bleeding. Researchers recommend that hemoglobin levels be determined periodically in older adults who regularly receive aspirin.