Original Research: “Aspirin Use Rates in Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Cross-Sectional Study”*
A study in the Canadian Journal of Diabetes (2010;34(3):211-217) has concluded “…our study identified that about one-quarter of people with diabetes who have an indication for primary prevention and over 70% of those with a history of CV events use aspirin regularly. The most common dose of aspirin taken to prevent CV events is ≤100 mg daily. Current pharmacological and clinical trial evidence would suggest this dose is suboptimal.“
In their paper the authors suggest; “One possible explanation for the lack of benefit seen with daily aspirin doses ≤100 mg is aspirin resistance. It appears that people with diabetes have elevated platelet reactivity and therefore lower response to aspirin compared to the general population.”
A simple urine test to measure the efficacy of a patient’s ASA dose is now available in Canada, calledASAEffect. Read more about the test at www.ASA Effect.com. The test is available through LifeLabs Canada and can be ordered through you physician.
*Note: In Canada, Aspirin is a trademark of Bayer AG, used under license. ASA is the abbreviation for Acetylsalicylic Acid
