Nearly half of U.S. adults incorrectly believe that the benefits of daily low-dose aspirin outweigh the risks, according to a new survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center.
A recent survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania has revealed a significant gap in public understanding regarding the use of daily low-dose aspirin for heart attack and stroke prevention.
Despite updated guidelines from prominent medical organizations, nearly half (48%) of U.S. adults still mistakenly believe that the benefits of taking a daily low-dose aspirin outweigh the risks for most adults.
For years, aspirin has been considered a preventive measure for cardiovascular events due to its blood-thinning properties, which help prevent clotting. However, guidelines have evolved.
In March 2019, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association (AHA) announced that for healthy adults over 70, the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding from daily aspirin use outweighs the potential benefits.
This guidance was further reinforced in 2022 when the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommended against starting a daily low-dose aspirin regimen for adults 60 and older without a history or symptoms of cardiovascular disease.
“Habits backed by conventional wisdom and the past advice of health care providers are hard to break,” Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center and director of the survey, said in a news release. “Knowing whether taking a low-dose aspirin daily is advisable or not for you is vital health information.”
The APPC’s survey, part of the Annenberg Science and Public Health Knowledge (ASAPH) survey series, highlighted concerning statistics regarding aspirin use.
Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. adults without a personal or family history of heart attack or stroke report taking a low-dose aspirin regularly, with 10% taking it almost every day. This behavior persists despite clear recommendations advising against it for many individuals.
Age seems to play a role in the perception of aspirin’s benefits versus risks.
Younger adults (ages 18-39) are more aware of the updated guidelines, with 29% recognizing the risks compared to only 7% of adults aged 60 and older. This disparity may stem from older adults being more familiar with previous guidance advocating for daily aspirin use.
This survey, the 22nd wave of APPC’s nationally representative panel, was conducted by SSRS, an independent market research company, and included 1,771 U.S. adults. It also sheds light on the broad impact of cardiovascular disease, with 48% of adults aged 20 and older having some form of cardiovascular condition including coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke or hypertension.
The findings from this survey underscore the necessity for ongoing education and communication about updated medical guidelines. Better awareness and understanding can lead to more informed decisions about using medications like aspirin, ultimately improving public health outcomes.