New Australian research suggests that aspirin does not reduce fracture risk, and can actually increase the risk of serious falls in otherwise healthy, older people.
The new paper, which is a sub-study of a larger, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial, was published in JAMA Internal Medicine. It’s called ‘Daily Low-Dose Aspirin and Risk of Serious Falls and Fractures in Healthy Older People’.
The study aimed to determine if daily low-dose aspirin (100mg) reduces the risk of fractures or serious falls in healthy older men and women.
Although aspirin has been reported for some time to reduce bone fragility and slow bone loss, researchers found that low-dose aspirin provides little favourable benefit in a healthy, older adult population.
Findings
While the risk of first fracture was similar in the aspirin and placebo groups, indicating no significant benefit, the risk of serious fall was statistically significantly greater in the aspirin group (884 total falls, versus 804 falls in the placebo group).
The findings indicate a potential additional risk for the use of low-dose aspirin in initially healthy older people. Importantly, these findings do not apply to those with a medical reason to take aspirin, such as after a heart attack.
Data on falls and fractures in the wider ASPREE (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) clinical trial participants were collected via medical records.
Aspirin still has its place
Monash University’s Associate Professor Anna Barker said, ‘Older adults with a medical reason to take aspirin should continue to do so, but for healthy older people without heart disease or prior stroke, aspirin appears to provide little benefit and may do more harm than good, by increasing a person’s risk of having a serious fall.
‘Always seek medical advice before changing your aspirin regime,’ she said.
‘Falls are frequent for many older people and can have several negative impacts including fractures, soft tissue injuries, loss of confidence and independence.
‘They are a frequent reason an older person attends an Emergency Department and needs to receive care in hospital,’ said Associate Professor Barker.
