Aspirin Works as Well as Warfarin
People with congestive heart failure often receive warfarin to prevent blood clots, but a large randomized double-blinded trial concludes that aspirin works just as well, according to a
study from
The New England Journal of Medicine.
Researchers studied 2,305 patients with heart failure and normal heart rhythm. They gave half of them regimens of warfarin and dummy aspirin, while the other half took aspirin and dummy warfarin. The scientists followed them for up to six years, tracking incidents of stroke, hemorrhage and death, The New York Times reports.
While there was no significant difference between the two drugs overall, patients who took warfarin were significantly less likely to have a stroke, but that advantage was canceled out by an increased likelihood of gastrointestinal bleeding and other hemorrhages. There were no significant differences in heart attacks or hospitalizations for heart failure.