This Drug Is Better Than Aspirin in Preventing Heart Attacks
An international team of doctors has discovered that the commonly prescribed blood thinner clopidogrel, which does not carry additional risks, is more effective than aspirin in preventing heart attacks and strokes.
Millions of people are advised to take aspirin to reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular problems, as a small daily dose of aspirin makes the blood less sticky and helps prevent heart attacks and strokes – reports Sombor.info.
An analysis of nearly 29,000 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) showed that clopidogrel was superior to aspirin in preventing serious heart attacks and strokes, without increasing the risk of major bleeding, according to The Guardian.
CAD is the most common form of heart disease and the leading cause of death and disability worldwide, affecting more than 300 million people globally. This condition occurs when the arteries in the heart narrow due to the buildup of atheroma, fatty material within their walls. The pain or discomfort caused by this narrowing is called angina, and if a blockage occurs, it can trigger a heart attack.
CAD often requires lifelong treatment to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular death, and aspirin has often been prescribed to patients.
A new analysis of seven clinical trials showed that patients taking clopidogrel had a 14 percent lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events – including heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death – compared to those taking aspirin.
The analysis covered different groups of patients, including those who had undergone procedures such as stent placement or had experienced acute coronary syndrome, and examined various subgroups to ensure the findings were widely applicable.
Notably, even patients who may have responded less effectively to clopidogrel due to genetic or clinical factors still benefited from its use compared to aspirin.
The results suggest that clopidogrel should be considered the preferred long-term antiplatelet drug for patients with coronary artery disease, The Guardian adds.
“These results support the advantage of clopidogrel over aspirin for chronic antiplatelet monotherapy in patients with stable coronary artery disease. The widespread availability, generic formulation, and affordability of clopidogrel further support its potential for broad application in clinical practice,” said the scientists at a cardiology conference in Madrid, where they presented the study.
