PATTERNS OF ASPIRIN USE IN MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS - THE ATHEROSCLEROSIS RISK IN COMMUNITIES (ARIC) STUDY

To determine correlates of and recent trends in aspirin use in middle- age men and women, we analyzed data from population-based samples sele cted in four U.S. communities. Aspirin use (during a 2-week period pre ceding the study examination) was more prevalent in whites than in bla cks (30% vs 11%; p < 0.001) and in men than in women among whites (31% vs 28%; p < 0.002) but not blacks (10% in both sexes). In all four ra ce and sex groups, there was a graded positive relation between estima ted coronary heart disease (CHD) risk and age-adjusted prevalence of a spirin use. For example, 33% of CHD-free white men who reported diagno ses of hypercholesterolemia and hypertension and had ever smoked repor ted aspirin use as compared with 25% of their risk factor-free counter parts (p < 0.001). Among men with symptomatic CHD or at high risk for CHD, aspirin use increased by four percentage points between 1987 and 1989 in conjunction with the publication of results from the aspirin p rimary prevention trials. However, nearly 50% of participants reportin g a history of myocardial infarction apparently did not take aspirin r egularly.