Aspirin for Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in 51 Low-, Middle-, and High-Income Countries

IMPORTANCE Aspirin is an effective and low-cost option for reducing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and improving mortality rates among individuals with established CVD. To guide efforts to mitigate the global CVD burden, there is a need to understand current levels of aspirin use for secondary prevention of CVD. OBJECTIVE To report and evaluate aspirin use for secondary prevention of CVD across low-, middle-, and high-income countries. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Cross-sectional analysis using pooled, individual participant data from nationally representative health surveys conducted between 2013 and 2020 in 51 low-, middle-, and high-income countries. Included surveys contained data on self-reported history of CVD and aspirin use. The sample of participants included nonpregnant adults aged 40 to 69 years. EXPOSURES Countries' per capita income levels and world region; individuals' socioeconomic demographics. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Self-reported use of aspirin for secondary prevention of CVD. RESULTS The overall pooled sample included 124505 individuals. The median age was 52 (IQR, 45-59) years, and 50.5% (95% CI, 49.9%-51.1%) were women. A total of 10589 individuals had a self-reported history of CVD (8.1% [95% CI, 7.6%-8.6%]). Among individuals with a history of CVD, aspirin use for secondary prevention in the overall pooled sample was 40.3% (95% CI, 37.6%-43.0%). By income group, estimates were 16.6% (95% CI, 12.4%-21.9%) in low-income countries, 24.5% (95% CI, 20.8%-28.6%) in lower-middle-income countries, 51.1% (95% CI, 48.2%-54.0%) in upper-middle-income countries, and 65.0% (95% CI, 59.1%-70.4%) in high-income countries. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE Worldwide, aspirin is underused in secondary prevention, particularly in low-income countries. National health policies and health systems must develop, implement, and evaluate strategies to promote aspirin therapy.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the use of aspirin for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) across different income countries and found that aspirin is underused, particularly in low-income countries. National health policies and systems should develop strategies to promote the use of aspirin therapy.