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Study Challenges Myth about Aspirin and Diabetes

-October 17, 2008

A new report published in the British Medical Journal has found that taking aspirin may not reduce diabetics' risk of developing cardiovascular problems. These new results are significant because about 4 out of every 5 diabetic patients ultimately die of heart attack, stroke or heart disease. With aspirin now ruled out as an effective preventative measure for diabetics, researchers and medical experts are starting to take a critical look at widespread aspirin use. 

Study Results Change Current Medical Practices
The results of this study defy currently accepted medical practices, which generally involve recommending aspirin use for those with diabetes and/or other risks of heart problems. Such recommendations have stemmed from past research that found regular aspirin use by heart attack or stroke patients could decrease their risk of having another heart issue by up to 25 percent.

However, with this newer study, researchers are now recognizing that recommendations for aspirin use need to be specific to those with heart problems, rather than also applying to patients at risk of cardiovascular disease.

Details of the Study
At the University of Dundee, located in Scotland, researchers – led by Professor Jill Belch – focused their study on about 1,300 adults over 40 years old who displayed no symptoms of heart disease. All of the candidates in this study were living with either type 1 or type 2 Diabetes.

Type 1 versus Type 2 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes, also referred to as juvenile or childhood diabetes, is typically present from birth and requires that patients receive lifelong insulin injections, as these patients' pancreas are incapable of producing insulin. Alternately, type 2 Diabetes is a chronic condition that develops in adulthood and may be manageable without insulin if patients live healthfully. While about 10 percent of diabetes cases involve type 1 Diabetes, over 90 percent of diabetics live with type 2 diabetes.

Currently, there is no cure for diabetes. Patients can only treat the condition by eating healthy (low-fat and low sugar) diets, exercising regularly and taking insulin, if necessary. If patients don't properly treat this condition, they are at risk of developing serious health problems, including blindness, kidney failure and death.

Results Prove Aspirin to be an Ineffective Treatment
After monitoring these candidates for over seven years, researchers found that those who regularly took aspirin had the same risk of heart attack, stroke and heart disease as those who took the placebo. Consequently, it's clear that diabetics don't experience elevated levels of protection from cardiovascular problems merely by taking aspirin.

Moreover, because taking aspirin is known to cause ulcers and stomach bleeding, researchers are warning doctors to only recommend aspirin use (as a preventative measure) for patients who currently live with heart disease or those who have previously suffered a heart attack or stroke.

Researchers are also calling for further studies that would find an effective method of reducing diabetic patients' risk of heart disease.

(Source: BBC Health News)

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