Prolonged Aspirin Use Linked to Anaemia Risk

A RECENT study analyzing data from the ASPREE trial has revealed that longterm daily use of aspirin raises the risk of anaemia by 20% in individuals primarily aged 70 and above.

The Monash University-led study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, monitored 18,153 initially healthy older adults in Australia and the USA over an average period of 4.7 years, recording incidents of anaemia. The study found that the aspirin group had a 20% higher risk of developing anaemia compared to the placebo group.

The ASPREE trial, known as ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly, involved half the participants taking a daily low dose (100mg) of aspirin, while the other half received a placebo. This study is the largest of its kind to investigate anaemia in older people as part of a randomized controlled trial.

Anaemia, a condition commonly experienced by older adults, can significantly impact overall functioning and contribute to fatigue, disabilities, depressive symptoms, and cognitive problems.

Furthermore, blood tests conducted levels of ferritin, a protein responsible for transporting iron, in the aspirin group compared to the placebo group.

Associate Professor Zoe McQuilten from