Details of HTA project in progress
Last updated: 1 July 2008 - Next update due: 8 July 2008
Research type: |
HTA Technology Assessment Report |
Project title: |
Aspirin in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease |
Project ref: |
06/10/01 |
Cost: |
This project has been commissioned by the HTA programme on a call-off contract basis. |
Chief Investigator : |
School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR-TAG), University of Sheffield |
Start Date: |
July 2006. |
Publication date: |
Early 2009. This date takes account of time for report preparation and printing based on current average times for these activities. |
Plain English Summary |
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a disorder of the heart and blood vessels, which can lead to cardiovascular events such as heart attack (myocardial infarction) and stroke. The most common form of CVD is coronary heart disease (CHD). In CHD the blood vessels that lead to the heart become narrowed or blocked, and this can result in angina (chest pain due to decreased blood flow to the heart) and heart attack. Other forms of CVD are stroke, transient ischaemic attack and peripheral vascular disease. CVD is the most common cause of death in the UK, accounting for nearly 233,000 deaths in 2003. Approximately 50% of these deaths were from CHD and 25% from stroke. CVD is also a significant cause of morbidity and can have a major impact on quality of life.1 Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is an antiplatelet drug. It is widely used either alone or in combination with other antiplatelet agents to prevent blood clots, particularly in individuals who have atherosclerosis of the arteries or are otherwise prone to develop arterial blood clots. For cardioprotective drug therapy, current UK guidelines2 recommend the use of low-dose aspirin in all people with clinical evidence of CVD (coronary heart disease, stroke, transient ischaemic attack, or peripheral vascular disease). In these people, the benefits of treatment with low-dose aspirin readily outweigh the possible harm from major gastrointestinal bleeding, gastric irritation and ulceration. People who have no clinical evidence of CVD are at lower risk of cardiovascular events than those with existing disease and for many such people the risk of adverse effects (such as major bleeding) may outweigh the benefits of taking aspirin. The aim of this review is to systematically evaluate and appraise the clinical and cost effectiveness (in terms of balance of risks and benefits) of aspirin in comparison to placebo (or no treatment) for the primary prevention of CVD in the UK. |
Abstract: |
The assessment will address the question What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of aspirin for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in the UK. The clinical and cost-effectiveness of aspirin will be assessed in comparison to placebo (or no treatment). The National Co-ordinating Centre for HTA commissioned this technology assessement report on behalf of the HTA Programme Director. |
MeSH* index primary terms: |
CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASES Q-prevention-&-control; ANTI-INFLAMMATORY-AGENTS-NON-STEROIDAL Q-therapeutic-use; ASPIRIN Q-therapeutic-use |
MeSH* index secondary terms: |
HUMANS; COST-BENEFIT-ANALYSIS |
NRR* number, if applicable: |
N0484184712 (*National Research Register) |
Project Protocol: |
Project protocol not available |
URL of this page: |
http://www.hta.ac.uk/1540 |
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