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Previous studies have shown that aspirin effectively treats patients with heart problems such as heart attacks and strokes. New research now suggests that it may have even broader-reaching applications.

Researchers from Oxford University reviewed 287 previous studies which involved more than 200,000 high-risk patients. They compared aspirin therapy with other heart treatments and compared the effectiveness of different doses. High-risk patients included those with a history of stroke, heart attack, heart disease or diabetes.

Results showed that among high-risk patients, antiplatelet therapy lowered the risk of serious heart problems by 25 percent, non-fatal heart attacks by more than 33 percent, non-fatal stroke by 25 percent, and the death rate by more than 16 percent. Researchers also found that high doses (500 milligrams to 1500 milligrams) of aspirin daily are no more effective than medium doses (160 milligrams to 325 milligrams) or low doses of (75 milligrams to 150 milligrams).

Researchers recommend low doses for the long-term prevention of serious heart events in high-risk patients and low to medium doses following a heart attack or stroke. The data also showed that antiplatelet therapy can safely be given during a stroke. For patients who react negatively to aspirin, researchers suggest the drug clopidogrel as an effective alternative, according to the British Medical Journal (2002;324:71-86).