When considering all cardiovascular events combined, a daily aspirin showed no significant effect. The primary endpoint occurred in 269 (4.29%) individuals in the aspirin group versus 281 (4.48%) in the placebo group.

Of interest, aspirin did reduce the risk of total and nonfatal heart attacks. Aspirin accounted for an 82.1% reduction in these events for those aged 50-59 years of age and and a 54.3% reduction in the 59-69 age group. There was no effect of aspirin use on risk of stroke.

Bleeding was relatively infrequent, and when it occurred, was mild and most commonly from the GI tract – 61 (0.97%) individuals in the aspirin group versus 29 (0.46%) in the placebo group. Other commonly reported side effects of aspirin were indigestion, nosebleeds, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and upper abdominal pain.

So it looks as if I will need to amend my “desert island” advice to exclude any risk reduction in stroke. And 1% of you may get a GI or nose bleed falling out of the coconut tree…

In an equally fascinating study published earlier in the month, Canadian researchers suggested that a low dose daily aspirin could reduce HIV susceptibility. So the aspirin story continues on – a century after becoming available.