Millions of Older Americans Persist in Daily Aspirin Use Against Updated Medical Guidelines

New studies reveal that a significant number of seniors continue taking aspirin for heart disease prevention despite increased bleeding risks and revised recommendations.

Nearly a third of adults 60 and older take daily aspirin despite lacking cardiovascular disease.
Updated guidelines from 2019 and 2022 advise against routine aspirin use for primary prevention in older adults.
Research indicates that 18.5 million seniors used aspirin for primary prevention in 2021.
The risk of bleeding, particularly gastrointestinal and brain bleeding, outweighs the benefits for many older adults.
Physicians stress the importance of discussing aspirin use with patients to ensure informed decisions.