Does antiplatelet therapy prevent death, myocardial infarction, and stroke in high risk patients?
Low dose aspirin (75-150 mg daily) is an effective long-term antiplatelet regimen for preventing occlusive vascular events in high-risk patients, with higher loading doses required in acute settings.
Aspirin (or another oral antiplatelet drug) is protective in most types of patient at increased risk of occlusive vascular events, including those with an acute myocardial infarction or ischaemic stroke, unstable or stable angina, previous myocardial infarction, stroke or cerebral ischaemia, peripheral arterial disease, or atrial fibrillation. Low dose aspirin (75-150 mg daily) is an effective antiplatelet regimen for long term use, but in acute settings an initial loading dose of at least 150 mg aspirin may be required. Adding a second antiplatelet drug to aspirin may produce additional benefits in some clinical circumstances, but more research into this strategy is needed.
Antiplatelet Trialists Collaboration (Sat,) studied this question.
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