Researchers from Denmark, affiliated with the European Society of Cardiology, found that individuals who survived a heart attack and did not take daily aspirin faced a higher likelihood of experiencing a subsequent myocardial infarction, stroke, or death. The findings were presented at the ESC annual congress in 2023, highlighting aspirin’s role in post-heart attack care.
Aspirin works in small doses by reducing the tendency of platelets to clump together, which helps prevent blood clots and maintains smoother blood flow through the arteries. In practical terms, this means aspirin can help shield patients from new heart events and strokes when used as prescribed after a heart attack.
One of the researchers stated that skipping aspirin after a heart attack is linked to an elevated risk of another cardiac event. The team recommended that patients continue aspirin as instructed until randomized controlled trials provide evidence to change clinical guidelines and consensus in practice evolves accordingly.
The analysis drew on data from the Danish national health registry. The study included patients aged 40 and older who had their first heart attack between 2004 and 2017. Researchers assessed aspirin use at two, four, six, and eight years after the initial event to determine adherence and its association with outcomes.
This work underscores the importance of ongoing aspirin therapy for eligible heart attack survivors, while also acknowledging that individual risk factors and modern guidelines should shape personalized treatment plans. The Danish findings contribute to a growing body of evidence about long-term preventive strategies that aim to reduce recurrent heart damage, stroke, and mortality among survivors.
In the broader context, clinicians emphasize that decisions about aspirin should consider a patient’s bleeding risk, comorbid conditions, and overall cardiovascular risk profile. Regular follow-up and evidence-based adjustments remain essential to ensuring that post-heart attack care yields the best possible prognosis for patients in Canada, the United States, and beyond.