Journal of primary health care
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To assess benefit versus harm of aspirin for cardiovascular disease (CVD) primary prevention by age group, gender and risk category and to interpret these results in light of current New Zealand CVD risk assessment and management guidelines. ⋯ The recent ATT Collaboration meta-analysis has raised doubts about the relative safety of aspirin in primary prevention of CVD. However, modelling by risk category and age group suggests that current guidelines are justified in recommending aspirin for primary prevention of CVD in those with five-year CVD risk > or = 15% up to the age of 80 years. For men 70-79, consider lipid and blood pressure-lowering therapies first then reassess whether aspirin adds additional net benefit.