Key result
Short-term aspirin use increased the risk of minor gastrointestinal events compared to placebo (OR 1.46) and active comparators (OR 1.81), with no serious adverse events observed.
Why the study?
Does short-term aspirin use increase gastrointestinal adverse effects compared to placebo or active comparators in subjects treated for pain, fever, or colds?
Meta-Analysis (n=19,829)
Does short-term aspirin use increase gastrointestinal adverse effects compared to placebo or active comparators in subjects treated for pain, fever, or colds?
Effect estimate: OR 1.46 (95% CI 1.15-1.86)
Absolute Event Rate: 5.2% vs 3.7%
Short-term use of aspirin is associated with a higher frequency of minor gastrointestinal complaints compared to placebo or other common analgesics, though without an increase in serious gastrointestinal events.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Aspirin is widely used for short-term treatment of pain, fever or colds, but there are only limited data regarding the safety of this use. To summarize the available data on this topic, we conducted a meta-analysis of the published clinical trial literature regarding the gastrointestinal adverse effects of short-term use of aspirin in comparison with placebo and other medications commonly used for the same purpose. DATA SOURCES AND METHODS: An extensive literature search identified 119,310 articles regarding possible adverse effects of aspirin, among which 23,131 appeared to possibly include relevant data. An automated text-mining procedure was used to score the references for potential relevance for the meta-analysis. The 3,983 highest-scoring articles were reviewed individually to identify those with data that could be included in this analysis. Ultimately, 78 relevant articles were identified that contained gastrointestinal adverse event data from clinical trials of aspirin versus placebo or an active comparator. Odds ratios (ORs) computed using a Mantel-Haenszel estimator were used to summarize the comparative effects on dyspepsia, nausea/vomiting, and abdominal pain, considered separately and also aggregated as 'minor gastrointestinal events'. Gastrointestinal bleeds, ulcers, and perforations were also investigated. RESULTS: Data were obtained regarding 19,829 subjects (34 % treated with aspirin, 17 % placebo, and 49 % an active comparator). About half of the aspirin subjects took a single dose. Aspirin was associated with a higher risk of minor gastrointestinal events than placebo or active comparators: the summary ORs were 1.46 (95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.15-1.86) and 1.81 (95 % CI 1.61-2.04), respectively. Ulcers, perforation, and serious bleeding were not seen after use of aspirin or any of the other interventions. CONCLUSIONS: During short-term use, aspirin is associated with a higher frequency of gastrointestinal complaints than other medications commonly used for treatment of pain, colds, and fever. Serious adverse events were not observed with aspirin or any of the comparators.
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Baron et al. (2013) conducted a meta-analysis in Pain, fever, or colds (n=19,829). Aspirin vs. Placebo or active comparators was evaluated on Minor gastrointestinal events (vs placebo) (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.15-1.86). Short-term aspirin use increased the risk of minor gastrointestinal events compared to placebo (OR 1.46) and active comparators (OR 1.81), with no serious adverse events observed.
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