Effect of aspirin on healthspan in community-dwelling older adults: the ASPirin in reducing events in the elderly study.
Daily aspirin doesn't extend healthy years in older adults, confirming it lacks broad preventive benefit for aging populations beyond those with existing heart disease.
This ASPREE trial secondary analysis uses a comprehensive 'healthspan' composite endpoint — years lived without major disability in physical function, cognition, depression, or chronic pain — to evaluate aspirin in community-dwelling adults aged >=70 years. Aspirin did not improve healthspan, extending the primary ASPREE findings that aspirin lacks net benefit for primary prevention in elderly populations even using a holistic well-being metric.
What the study was
- Study design
- Multicenter RCT pre-specified secondary analysis (ASPREE trial; community-dwelling adults >=70 years)
- Population
- Community-dwelling adults aged >=70 years (ASPREE trial cohort)
- Category
- Prevention
- Maturity
- Potentially Practice-Changing
- Journal
- Age and ageing
Why it surfaced
Multicenter RCT (ASPREE) demonstrating aspirin does not improve a novel 'healthspan' composite endpoint in elderly (>=70y). Reinforces guidelines against routine aspirin primary prevention in older adults. Introduces healthspan as a meaningful composite endpoint for aging intervention trials.
A plain-language summary of published research — not medical advice. Talk to a clinician about your own care.