The Physicians' Health Study: Aspirin for the Primary Prevention of Myocardial Infarction

Document Type

Letter to the Editor

Publication Date

4-7-1988

Abstract

To the Editor: The recently published aspirin component of the ongoing Physicians' Health Study (Jan. 28 issue)1 represents the first primary-prevention trial to document a statistically significant reduction in fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction as a result of aspirin prophylaxis. My review of this article made me wonder why so few cardiovascular deaths were observed, and whether there is an optimal dose of aspirin to prevent arterial thrombosis.2 Although 733 cardiovascular deaths were expected, only 88 were documented. This represents a cardiovascular mortality 88 percent less than expected. No explanation for this striking reduction was proposed. Is it possible that. © 1988, Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

New England Journal of Medicine

First Page

924

Last Page

926

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