An aspirin a day DOES ‘significantly slash cancer and heart disease risk’
The common over-the-counter medicine, which costs just 2 pence per tablet, can potentially save the NHS millions of pounds - and countless lives.
TAKING an aspirin each day reduces the risk of a heart attack and cancer, scientists claim.
The common painkiller, which costs less than two pence per tablet, could save the NHS millions and extend life expectancy by nearly four months, their research has found.
This latest study, carried out at the University of Southern California, will add to the ongoing debate around the drug's additional benefits, which have been argued by medical experts for decades.
Forty years ago, British researcher Sir John Vane first discovered that aspirin makes the blood less sticky and can stop blood clots developing.
Since then GPs recommend a daily 75mg dose to patients who were either at risk of a heart disease or a stroke, or who'd previously had heart surgery - especially the elderly.
But there has since been conflicting advice on the long-term impact of taking aspirin daily which may stop people taking it.
The US government-backed panel of experts, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), said the drug can reduce heart disease and bowel cancer.
But the US's Food and Drug Administration said some patients, particularly those over 60 had an increased risk of stroke and bleeding - both gastrointestinal and in the brain - if they take aspirin daily.
Now, scientists at the University of Southern California have said the painkiller is a life-saver for elderly patients with heart disease - and, if more took it, more would survive.
Lead author Professor David Agus said: "Although the health benefits of aspirin are well established, few people take it.
Although the health benefits of aspirin are well established, few people take it. Multiple health benefits and a reduction in healthcare spending can come from this simple, low-cost measure
Professor David Agus, University of Southern California
"Our study shows multiple health benefits and a reduction in healthcare spending from this simple, low-cost measure that should be considered a standard part of care for the appropriate patient."
Assistant professor, Dr Étienne Gaudette added: "The problem that this creates for Americans and medical professionals is that the information about aspirin is confusing.
"This means some who would benefit from aspirin aren't taking it.
"Through our study, we sought to make it much easier for everyone to understand what the long-term benefits are."
The study used data from several national surveys to run to scenarios on the long-term benefit of aspirin.
It estimated what would happen if aspirin was taken according to official guidelines and if people over 51 ignored guidelines and took it daily.
Following the guidelines would prevent 11 cases of heart disease and four cases of cancer for every 1,000 Americans aged 51 to 79.
Life expectancy would improve by 0.3 years which would be largely disability-free, so out of 1,000 people, eight more Americans would reach age 80 and three more would reach the age of 100.
Furthermore, by 2036, an estimated 900,000 more Americans would be alive.
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There was no significant reduction for stroke incidence and the rate of gastrointestinal bleeding would increase 25 per cent from the current rate resulting in two out of 63 Americans could expect to suffering a bleeding incident between age 51 to 79.
If all older Americans took aspirin it could result in an estimated net health benefit worth £554 billion for the US population.
Yet while living longer could see lifetime medical costs, "observing the guidelines would yield positive and significant net value".
Professor Dana Goldman said: "The irony of our findings is that aspirin may be too cheap.
"Only 40 per cent of Americans are taking aspirin when they should, and providers have little incentive to push that number up, despite the obvious health benefits and healthcare savings.
"Until we figure out how to reward providers - and manufacturers - for long-term outcomes, no one is going to do anything about this problem."
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