Executive Summary

Aspirin and women: Aspirin "can significantly decrease death rates in postmenopausal women with cardiovascular disease," according to a study presented at the American Heart Association's annual Scientific Sessions in Dallas, Tex., Nov. 13-15. Jeffrey Berger, MD, Duke University Medical College, et al., evaluated 8,928 women age 50-79 with stable CVD from the multi-center Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. Aspirin use was reported by 46% of the population: 30% took 81 mg daily and 70% took 325 mg daily. During 6.5 years of follow-up, both doses were associated with a 17% reduction in all-cause mortality and a 25% lower death rate from all cardiovascular diseases when compared to non-aspirin users...