Rethinking Women, Aspirin and Primary Prevention

Aspirin has long been a cornerstone of primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. In 2018, three randomized trials updated the literature on aspirin use in the elderly (ASPREE), diabetics (ASCEND) and intermediate-risk populations (ARRIVE)1. While these trials provided useful insights on contemporary aspirin use, the role of aspirin in primary prevention was contested. As the apparent benefit of aspirin in primary prevention was less convincing, these trials were obliged to be reported as “negative”.