AMA supports counseling on appropriate use of aspirin

New health policies released by the American Medical Association include a resolution to increase physician education about the importance of counseling patients on the appropriate use of aspirin to prevent heart disease and stroke. Notably, in the AMA's announcement, the Association pointed to the strong evidence supporting aspirin's benefits in preventing cardiovascular events: "six trials, involving more than 95,000 adult men and women, have shown aspirin may be effective in reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke."

Commenting on the recommendation, German health care major Bayer, the inventor of Aspirin, said it applauds the AMA for adopting this policy, "which will amplify the discussion of aspirin use for appropriate patients as a proven, cost-effective strategy for preventing heart attacks and strokes, the USA's number one and number three killers. With its emphasis on physician counseling of patients about aspirin, the AMA resolution is an important step in helping to address the well-documented problem of aspirin under-utilization in America." Nearly 71 million people are at risk for cardiovascular disease in the USA and, according to the AMA, every 26 seconds an American will suffer a coronary event.