AGS No Longer Recommending Aspirin Therapy for Elderly Diabetics

It's common for people to take aspirin to help prevent cardiovascular disease, but the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is now saying that it's not a great idea for elderly people with type 2 diabetes to do so.

The recommendation is based on two large studies that found taking aspirin did not improve cardiovascular health outcomes for adults with type 2 diabetes. Combined with the risk of bleeding and other adverse side effects associated with taking aspirin, the AGS is no longer recommending it for geriatric diabetics as a way of preventing cardiovascular disease.

On the other hand, there is strong evidence that aspirin might be useful for elderly diabetics who have already had a heart attack or stroke. For this population, it can be an effective means of secondary prevention against cardiovascular disease.

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