Early aspirin use leads to 14% lower mortality, fewer recurrent ischemic strokes -- study.

EARLY ASPIRIN USE LEADS TO 14% LOWER MORTALITY, FEWER RECURRENT ISCHEMIC STROKES, but more hemorrhagic strokes among stroke patients participating in the Chinese Acute Stroke Trial (CAST). The study included 21,106 patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted into 413 Chinese hospitals. The large, randomized, placebo-controlled trial measured the effects of aspirin treatment (160 mg/day) begun within 48 hours of the onset of suspected acute ischemic stroke and continued in the hospital for up to four weeks. The primary endpoints were death during the treatment period and death or physical dependence at discharge. CAST was published in the June 7 issue The Lancet.