2026/07/01 by Haoxin Tina Zheng, Aung Zaw Zaw Phyo, Zimu Wu +10
Medicine · #Antiplatelet Therapy and Cardiovascular Diseases #Aspirin #Chronic Disease Management Strategies #Frailty in Older Adults #Life expectancy #Older people #Placebo #Psychological intervention #Randomized controlled trial #Weight loss
paper · doi:10.1093/ageing/afag218
published in Age and Ageing 55(7) (Oxford University Press)
openalex publication_date 2026/07/01 · openalex created_date 2026/07/25 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25
BACKGROUND: Inflammation is a shared pathogenic pathway underlying multiple chronic conditions and contributes to a loss of healthspan. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of low-dose aspirin on the loss of healthspan in older individuals. METHODS: ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised trial assessing the effect of daily low-dose aspirin for primary prevention. Community-dwelling participants aged ≥70 years [or ≥ 65 years for United States (US) minority ethnic groups] were recruited from Australia and the US. Eligible participants were initially free of major diseases with a life expectancy of more than five years and were randomly assigned to receive 100 mg of aspirin daily or a placebo. Loss of healthspan was defined as the first occurrence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dementia, cancer, or death. RESULTS: A total of 19 114 participants were followed for a median of 4.7 years, 5835 participants (30.5%) experienced a loss of healthspan. Participants who were older, male, smokers, or had hypertension, or frailty were more likely to experience healthspan loss during the trial. The rate of healthspan loss was 82.1 and 82.7 events per 1000 person-years in the aspirin and placebo groups, respectively. There was no evidence of a substantial difference in the risk of healthspan loss between the aspirin and placebo groups (hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% CI: 0.92-1.05). CONCLUSION: Low-dose aspirin had no effect on the rate of loss of healthspan among older community-dwelling adults. Future studies should explore lifestyle and behavioural interventions to extend healthspan.