'Aspirin resistance' or treatment non-compliance: Which is to blame for cardiovascular complications?
2008

Aspirin Resistance and Treatment Non-Compliance in Cardiovascular Patients

Editorial Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Eduard Shantsila, Gregory YH Lip

Primary Institution: Haemostasis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Unit, University Department of Medicine, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK

Hypothesis

Is aspirin resistance or treatment non-compliance responsible for cardiovascular complications?

Conclusion

Non-compliance with aspirin treatment is a significant factor contributing to cardiovascular complications, often mistaken for aspirin resistance.

Supporting Evidence

  • Up to 40% of patients with cardiovascular disease do not comply with aspirin.
  • 12% of patients discontinued all medications after acute myocardial infarction.
  • 28% of patients can be classified as 'aspirin resistant', but many are actually non-compliant.

Takeaway

Some people don't take their aspirin as they should, which can lead to heart problems. It's important to check if patients are really taking their medicine instead of just assuming they are resistant to it.

Potential Biases

Potential bias in self-reported compliance data.

Limitations

The article discusses the variability in defining aspirin resistance and the lack of reliable compliance measurement in studies.

Participant Demographics

Patients with cardiovascular disease, including those post-myocardial infarction.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1479-5876-6-47

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