Taking a daily dose of aspirin? It could increase gastrointestinal bleeding risk

While millions of people globally take an aspirin daily to lower their risk of heart attack, new research has found prolonged daily use of the drug increases the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding by at least 60 per cent in people aged 70 and over.

The Monash University-led study, published in top gastroenterology journal Gut, followed 19,114 participants over almost five-years and recorded 264 incidents of major GI bleeding, a known side-effect of aspirin.

Of the 264 incidents of both upper and lower GI bleeding, 162 occurred in those taking aspirin daily and 102 in the placebo group. The study also found that smoking, hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity, chronic kidney disease and the use of anti-inflammatory drugs also increased bleeding risk.

Dr Suzanne Mahady said these findings might assist patients and their clinicians to make informed decisions about the use of aspirin.

“We know that the most common side-effect of aspirin is bleeding and that older people are at higher risk, but until now we haven’t been able to accurately quantify that risk,” Dr Mahady said.

“Now we have a much clearer picture of the additional risk of bleeding with aspirin (60 per cent) and that taking aspirin when you have additional risk factors including hypertension, a history of smoking, kidney disease or with anti-inflammatory medication could be quite dangerous.

“Prescribing doctors may now use these data to assess the bleeding risk of aspirin use among their older patients, and may alternatively target the modifiable risk factors to reduce harm.”

In the past, it wasn’t uncommon for health professionals to suggest daily use of a low dose of aspirin – between 75 and 150mg per day – to prevent heart attacks and strokes, even for those not at risk of cardiovascular disease.

Because aspirin is a blood thinner, it can stop the blood from clotting, which is important in preventing cardiovascular disease because clots can cause blockages which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

It follows a 2018 published in the New England of Journal Medicine which found no health benefit of taking aspirin and those taking the medication had slightly higher rates of death. It didn’t reduce the risk of disability or cardiovascular disease and instead increased the likelihood of major bleeding problems.

In addition to causing bleeding, other common side effects of aspirin can range from dizziness, drowsiness and nausea to abdominal pain, heartburn and diarrhoea. The medication can also be used to treat mild pain, fever and swelling, but always discuss aspirin use with a doctor – even if the drug is available over-the-counter without a prescription.

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.